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Cancer on School Break

by Gloria Gamat on June 16th, 2008

Who doesn’t look forward to school breaks? Both children and parents are so looking forward for the school year to end. I am a parent to a 5-year old who started going to pre-school and some day care of sorts since he was 2-and-a-half. Though not continuously: the first year we lasted only a month, the 2nd year 4 months, the 3rd year he finally finished the whole school year (yeeha!).

Now is the 4th year my son is attending school. He’s in prep now and is raring to go always. Today was his first day at school. We are in the Philippines and so June is actually the start of the school year — after 2 months of our own version of summer break (April and May).

So yeah…who doesn’t look forward to school breaks? We all do. And what does school breaks got to do with cancer? A lot I think, as no household in the world wouldn’t benefit from school breaks — with or without cancer in the family.

Speaking of cancer stories that has to do with school or school breaks, I found the following of note today:

Cancer doesn’t slow down pilot

When he learned that his Hodgkin’s disease was out of remission two months ago, he was determined not to let it slow him down.

In fact, it made him move faster.

The 27-year-old Hanford resident recently earned his sport pilot license in seven days — quite an accomplishment given it normally takes a pilot six months to a year to accomplish.

Student has struggled with hardship few college students face - cancer

Chris Glaser has exhibited excellence and perseverance in myriad ways during his time at Ohio University. He will graduate cum laude today, receiving a bachelor’s degree in advertising management.

But his success has not come without a fight. Glaser has had to battle a hardship few college students must confront - cancer.

“It’s not something you expect to face,” Glaser said, referring to the rare form of cancer that has been attacking his heart. Still, he has remained enthusiastic about his life and his work.

Teacher retires after 41 years at Jefferson

Sharpe retired Friday after teaching history at the campus for four decades.

Sharpe also saw herself grow up, she said.

“I got married, had a daughter, got divorced and beat cancer —- all at Jefferson,” said Sharpe, who coyly declined to give her age.

Nichols School grad sets age record as cancer researcher

But at 18 years old, Kermis has yet to set foot in a college classroom, let alone a medical school.

“Somehow on my registration, I’m Dr. Rachael Kermis, because everyone else is a doctor,” the Cornell University-bound teen said. “I think it has a real nice ring to it.”

Kermis graduated cum laude from Nichols School on Friday. And next month, she will help present the most in-depth study ever conducted about the link between the virus that causes cervical cancer and throat cancer. It has the potential to give doctors groundbreaking insight into how people get cancer.

How are you coping with cancer in the family? How has your condition (or your child’s condition) affected the school years or school break? I hope all is well and hang in there.

By the way, I am hosting the Channel Theme Day tomorrow here at Cancer Commentary. Stay tuned for the round-up of posts.

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POSTED IN: cancer story, general commentary