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I will always remember the day I received the news I had cancer. In my law practice I had handled lawsuits regarding the delayed diagnosis of cancer. However, this experience did not prepare me for hearing those words used to reference my own diagnosis. Because I had worked as a delayed diagnosis of cancer lawyer and knew the symptoms of several different types of cancers, including advanced colon cancer I did not wait the moment I started to show symptoms myself.

I consulted with my family doctor who agreed that while I was not yet fifty years old and so was not a candidate for regular screening for colon cancer and regardless that I had no family history of colon cancer (at the time) that I ought to nonetheless undergo a colonoscopy to eliminate cancer as the reason for my symptoms.

The colonoscopy showed that I had a substantial cancerous tumor and surgery confirmed that it had by then begun spreading. The cancer was stage 3 colon cancer. Bad news. The one good part of this was that it was not stage iv colon cancer. Yet it was metastatic colon cancer that had spread to my lymph nodes. And I had an instant of true fear and doubt when I was given the news. I knew that my chances of long term survival were just about 50%. Regardless of the fact that I was an attorney and had previously handled medical malpractice lawsuits, even cases involving colon cancer, did not help me to avoid that moment of real panic and dread. For at that moment I believed I not survive the cancer

At that time I called a friend who was also an attorney and had been one of my mentors. I suppose it must have been instinct that I reached out to him first. He did not sugar coat it. And that was just what I needed. Someone else to say out loud what the reality was and what had to be done. He then offered to help with whatever I needed. Later the managing partner at the firm, another good friend, offered to handle all my cases during my treatment. He offered to do this, not for any compensation, but just out of friendship. I have alwats been grateful to him for that.

Despite the fact that I took a couple of weeks to recover after surgery and although there were times during the chemotherapy that I just did not feel well enough to do anything, I was, for the most part, able to keep working. This gave me great pleasure. I felt that I was able to carry my weight and lead more or less a regular life for the period of my treatment and seven years after my treatment I exhibit no evidence of cancer. If I had waited perhaps even just a few months the cancer would have continued to advance and I most likely would have lost the battle against this dreadful disase.

The lesson for us all is to get the appropriate test if you show symptoms of colon cancer. The best way to allow oneself the greatest treatment choices and the greatest chance of defeating the cancer is to detect and treat it early.

kengoh Current Events Cancerous Tumor, Colon Cancer, Colonoscopy, Delayed Diagnosis, Different Types Of Cancers, Doctor Who, Dread, Family Doctor, Fifty Years, History Of Colon Cancer, Lymph Nodes, Medical Malpractice Lawsuits, Mentors, Personal Response, Several Different Types, Stage 3, Sugar Coat, Term Survival, True Fear, Types Of Cancers

by Dave Delgado

How many of us can look back and think that we may not have reached our full potential in life? What if we had done better in school? What if we had gone to a better college?

The predominant attitude in today’s public schools has created a culture in which 16-year-olds are deciding they aren’t going to go to college. They think the material will be too difficult. They think they don’t have the necessary skills. They lack confidence in their own ability to learn and grow in an academic environment. They aren’t qualified to make the right decisions!

A lot has been said about the importance of small class size and individual attention in our schools. But small class size is only the beginning. The best high schools have not only smaller classes, which allow for more individual attention-they have highly qualified teachers who teach more challenging material.

AP courses, created by the College Board, have been around for fifty years. These are certified college-level courses that are taught in high schools. Their popularity has grown over the years, and they have become an essential part of the high school portfolio for anyone wishing to apply to a four year college or university. Many parents feel that these classes and their high expectations put too much pressure on young children, still in high school. But that isn’t how it was meant to be.

When approached the right way, these courses may in fact be a very good opportunity. The downside is that most high schools that offer these courses still pack 20 to 30 students into the class. So instead of being a positive opportunity, many students simply struggle with the work. On the other hand, when these courses are taught by experienced professionals in smaller classes – classes with only 8 to 10 students per teacher, each student gets the opportunity to be successful in a college level course.

A taste of this success is sometimes all it takes to turn a student’s life around. Students at the best private high schools, such as Cambrian International Academy, have stated in many cases that the first class made them feel as if they could accomplish anything. They take more of these classes in subsequent years, and then find themselves accepted to top universities in advanced standing. The AP credit transfers, and they start college as sophomores!

Now, 16-year-olds have more reason to make an informed decision about college.

kengoh General 16 Year Olds, Academic Environment, Ap Courses, Aro, Attitude, Best High Schools, College Board, Confidence, Dave Delgado, Decisions, Downside, Experienced Professionals, Fifty Years, High Expectations, High School Students, Necessary Skills, Parents, Popularity, School Portfolio, Teacher Student Ratio