If you were diagnosed w/cancer, would you put it on your application?

[CareerNumTwo]

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I hesitated writing this because, well, it's a really weird/****ty situation. However, I've received a lot of great feedback on previous things I've posted so, what the hell?

If you haven't read any of my previous posts, my life in a nutshell: URM, graduated undergrad 10 years ago (really weak GPA), have been an active duty Army officer ever since (deployed overseas, led Soldiers, lost Soldiers, I could write a book), have a Master's degree in something I'm not remotely interested in, married and have a munchkin, figured out what I want to be when I grow up last year, have been studying my ass off ever since (4.0 GPA), recently found out I'm pregnant w/#2, even more recently found out I have cancer (thyroid papillary carcinoma). Phew.

Fortunately, my cancer is very treatable with nearly 100% success for my age bracket and current level of health. Unfortunately, it is not treatable while growing a fetus. Fortunately, it's normally very slow growing (crossing my fingers that mine continues this trend). It may sound crazy, but I've decided to delay treatment until after I pass Orgo 2 in the spring, take the DAT in June, and hit send on my application. My doc supports me in all of this (so I must not be that crazy) but the tumor is being monitored closely. Just in case. However, this means that at the time I hit send, I will still have cancer...

Anywho, back to my question. If I put it somewhere on my application, I feel like this could go three ways.
1) They'll applaud my resilience/motivation/dedication/etc. (I'm all for earning brownie points, but this really has more to do with some cells that went rogue in my thyroid. Although the, "you have cancer" speech from my pathologist was a little eerie, I am not wasting any energy throwing myself a pity party. Besides, I feel totally fine healthwise.)
2) They'll think, "why would we admit someone who has cancer? This chick has lost it. She needs to get healthy first and then re-apply next year." (While I would totally understand this logic, I'm too old to delay the pursuit of my goals and I'm confident (as is my doctor) that there will be no issue at the time of matriculation.)
3) They won't skip a beat and it won't affect anything. (wishful thinking?)

I could avoid the #2 entirely by just not mentioning it. But that feels dishonest somehow... Truth be told, the surgery and subsequent radiation therapy is much simpler than it sounds and I'll be back on my feet in a matter of weeks. Though I recognize the ADCOMs might not have the same level of understanding/comfort with someone in my situation.

I did have a dream that I didn't tell them and then, during an interview, when the faculty member said, "tell me about yourself," I blurted all of it out. I think my subconscious is telling me something.

Thoughts?

For the record, I don't really want to risk calling my schools of interest to ask them about this before applying. Just in case...

 

[tooth knockn]

I hesitated writing this because, well, it's a really weird/****ty situation. However, I've received a lot of great feedback on previous things I've posted so, what the hell?

If you haven't read any of my previous posts, my life in a nutshell: URM, graduated undergrad 10 years ago (really weak GPA), have been an active duty Army officer ever since (deployed overseas, led Soldiers, lost Soldiers, I could write a book), have a Master's degree in something I'm not remotely interested in, married and have a munchkin, figured out what I want to be when I grow up last year, have been studying my ass off ever since (4.0 GPA), recently found out I'm pregnant w/#2, even more recently found out I have cancer (thyroid papillary carcinoma). Phew.

Fortunately, my cancer is very treatable with nearly 100% success for my age bracket and current level of health. Unfortunately, it is not treatable while growing a fetus. Fortunately, it's normally very slow growing (crossing my fingers that mine continues this trend). It may sound crazy, but I've decided to delay treatment until after I pass Orgo 2 in the spring, take the DAT in June, and hit send on my application. My doc supports me in all of this (so I must not be that crazy) but the tumor is being monitored closely. Just in case. However, this means that at the time I hit send, I will still have cancer...

Anywho, back to my question. If I put it somewhere on my application, I feel like this could go three ways.
1) They'll applaud my resilience/motivation/dedication/etc. (I'm all for earning brownie points, but this really has more to do with some cells that went rogue in my thyroid. Although the, "you have cancer" speech from my pathologist was a little eerie, I am not wasting any energy throwing myself a pity party. Besides, I feel totally fine healthwise.)
2) They'll think, "why would we admit someone who has cancer? This chick has lost it. She needs to get healthy first and then re-apply next year." (While I would totally understand this logic, I'm too old to delay the pursuit of my goals and I'm confident (as is my doctor) that there will be no issue at the time of matriculation.)
3) They won't skip a beat and it won't affect anything. (wishful thinking?)

I could avoid the #2 entirely by just not mentioning it. But that feels dishonest somehow... Truth be told, the surgery and subsequent radiation therapy is much simpler than it sounds and I'll be back on my feet in a matter of weeks. Though I recognize the ADCOMs might not have the same level of understanding/comfort with someone in my situation.

I did have a dream that I didn't tell them and then, during an interview, when the faculty member said, "tell me about yourself," I blurted all of it out. I think my subconscious is telling me something.

Thoughts?

For the record, I don't really want to risk calling my schools of interest to ask them about this before applying. Just in case...

Cancer is really common, cancer could be really deadly . . . Many people here might know somebody who wish they could be in your shoes, " yea ill just wait after orgo then if i have the time ill take care of the cancer"

You don't take your health serious, why would someone else trust you with theirs?

that is all one point of view. . . . .

What you say will describe you as a person, you will be judged, good or bad or neutral, maybe nobody cares, .. . . Did this cancer interfere with your life? obviously not, orgo seems to be more important. . .. .

IMO you just looking for someone to feel bad and let you in. .. .

you were in the military, army, why not write about or mention your leadership skills, communication skills, weaponry skills, combat skills, life saving skills, . . .

But if this cancer really is important to you and worth speaking about then do it, it is your life, your character.

 

[hellofuturedentists]

Seems like you have a ton of stuff to write about already for your application. I don't think #2 would be an issue. I think, if anything, there would be no space for you to even mention the cancer after all. The only place I could see you mentioning it would be in PS or the section where it asks if your education has been interrupted. For the PS, it doesn't seem like the cancer has affected your life as much as other stuff has, so you probably don't have room to incorporate it. If it ends up interrupting your education, you can mention it there. Good luck to you on everything! 🙂

 

[Incis0r]

Just popping in to say that you have to to be the most inspirational SDNer I have seen. Thank you for your service.

 

[BrooklynSmilez]

I hesitated writing this because, well, it's a really weird/****ty situation. However, I've received a lot of great feedback on previous things I've posted so, what the hell?
I did have a dream that I didn't tell them and then, during an interview, when the faculty member said, "tell me about yourself," I blurted all of it out. I think my subconscious is telling me something.

I think your situation solely depends on your outlook. If you feel this was a game changer in your life and you were able to learn a lesson from it and tie it into dentistry somehow, then by all means do so. However if you chose to omit it then it wouldn't necessarily be a dishonesty. You could mention it at a potential interview to show your resilience and dedication to a career you've already proved to love. Anyways if you chose not to go that rout than maybe speak of your family and military experience and how you manage to juggle so many responsibilities and if you do well on the DAT it can be used as evidence that you perform well under stress.. thanks for your service, and hope you have a speedy recovery!

 

[CareerNumTwo]

IMO you just looking for someone to feel bad and let you in...

Could not be further from the truth.

I don't think #2 would be an issue... I think, if anything, there would be no space for you to even mention the cancer after all. For the PS, it doesn't seem like the cancer has affected your life as much as other stuff has, so you probably don't have room to incorporate it. If it ends up interrupting your education, you can mention it there.

I really hope you're right about #2. Like you said, I really have no real "need" to mention it in my PS unless it creates an issue...

Just popping in to say that you have to to be the most inspirational SDNer I have seen. Thank you for your service.

Thanks, but I have read inspirational stories on here that blow mine out of the water. Looking forward to seeing all the schools you get into!

I know I'm downplaying all of this as just another bump on the road, but it does suck and my husband is taking it a lot harder than I am. For me though, the treatment will require surgery (I'll lose my thyroid), radiation, and I'll have to be on medication for the rest of my life. It is a big deal, but it's a small price to pay when, as @tooth knockn mentioned, "Many people here might know somebody who wish they could be in your shoes."

However, @tooth knockn, just so you know, thats's like telling someone who just lost an eye, "hey, there are people who are blind who wish they were in your shoes." Or for all the students on SDN who worry about earning a C or failing a class, "hey, there are people out there who are dying and I bet they'd rather be in your shoes." Not super helpful.

I guess the whole reason for my excessively long thread was to figure out if the general consensus was that not saying anything = dishonesty...

 

[hellofuturedentists]

I guess the whole reason for my excessively long thread was to figure out if the general consensus was that not saying anything = dishonesty...

I definitely would not consider it dishonesty if you don't mention it. It's just something in your personal medical record 🙂

 

[doc toothache]

Would a diagnosis of STD, diabetes, hepatitis, rheumatism, high bp, angina, epilepsy, kidney disease also be a subject to be broached in a ps?

 

[Apramana]

Good luck to the OP.

For those who aren't aware, there appears to be a growing sense in the medical community that thyroid cancer is prone to overdiagnosis. Here's one example:

"An Epidemic of Thyroid Cancer?
(H. Gilbert Welch is a professor of medicine at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice and an author of “Overdiagnosed: Making People Sick in the Pursuit of Health.”)
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/06/opinion/an-epidemic-of-thyroid-cancer.html

More from Welch: http://tdi.dartmouth.edu/faculty/h-gilbert-welch-md-mph

I hope you find the information at least as worthwhile as I have.

 

[postpitadh]

Not dishonesty omitting this in your ps! Best of luck

 

[CareerNumTwo]

Would a diagnosis of STD, diabetes, hepatitis, rheumatism, high bp, angina, epilepsy, kidney disease also be a subject to be broached in a ps?

That's a really good point... Kicking myself for not thinking of it this way from the beginning.

For those who aren't aware, there appears to be a growing sense in the medical community that thyroid cancer is prone to overdiagnosis. Here's one example:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/06/opinion/an-epidemic-of-thyroid-cancer.html
I hope you find the information at least as worthwhile as I have.

@Apramana Thank you for posting that link. Seriously. In all the research I've done, it never came up. I'm going to talk to my doc about it. They found mine while palpating my neck during at my pregnancy intake appointment. Unfortunately, tumor is big; large enough to be seen when I swallow... I just never knew to look. However, pregnancy hormones make the thyroid do crazy stuff, so I'm curious to see what happens after I deliver. Especially considering all of my thyroid hormone blood levels are 100% normal. Really don't want to lose my thyroid if it's medically unnecessary.

 

[Apramana]

@Apramana Thank you for posting that link. Seriously. In all the research I've done, it never came up. I'm going to talk to my doc about it. They found mine while palpating my neck during at my pregnancy intake appointment. Unfortunately, tumor is big; large enough to be seen when I swallow... I just never knew to look. However, pregnancy hormones make the thyroid do crazy stuff, so I'm curious to see what happens after I deliver. Especially considering all of my thyroid hormone blood levels are 100% normal. Really don't want to lose my thyroid if it's medically unnecessary.

You're very welcome. That seems like a very challenging situation to be in, and I'm glad I might have been able to contribute something helpful. Thanks for the positive feedback.

There are quite a few verified admissions officials on the medical boards, and I believe @DrMidlife would be qualified to provide a valuable perspective on how a cancer diagnosis (and potential treatment) might factor into the admissions process. In addition, searching the forums for what some of these posters have said on the topic in the past is likely to be very worthwhile. (@Goro @Catalystik @gyngyn @LizzyM @QofQuimica @Med Ed @gonnif @Law2Doc are all individuals who have been involved in the medical school admissions process, if I recall.)

Regardless, good luck in your progress in all of your pursuits, and I hope everyone reading this is having a great day.

[Edit: Sorry to all those users that were tagged. I had tried to include the names without the automatic tagging, but it appears that the @ symbol triggers it automatically, when I had thought we still had to manually click the generated name.]

 

[Incis0r]

(@Goro @Catalystik @gyngyn @LizzyM @QofQuimica @Med Ed @gonnif @Law2Doc are all individuals who have been involved in the medical school admissions process, if I recall.)

And the cavalry was just called in!

 

[gyngyn]

The diagnosis of thyroid CA would have little effect on an MD application. I see no reason why it would be different for dentistry.
What OP learned about herself (and medicine) in this process may well be worth inclusion in an application. It's entirely her call as this is protected information.

 

[Apramana]

Thanks for the feedback, @gyngyn . I had thought it might be something that an applicant could spin positively in their application, but I wanted to defer to those with experience. Thanks, as well, for all that you contribute to our community.

 

[Goro]

Agree 100% with my learned colleagues gonnif and gyngyn.

I've interviewed cancer survivors and have several current students who have been treated for different Ca's.

You're very welcome. That seems like a very challenging situation to be in, and I'm glad I might have been able to contribute something helpful. Thanks for the positive feedback.

There are quite a few verified admissions officials on the medical boards, and I believe @DrMidlife would be qualified to provide a valuable perspective on how a cancer diagnosis (and potential treatment) might factor into the admissions process. In addition, searching the forums for what some of these posters have said on the topic in the past is likely to be very worthwhile. (@Goro @Catalystik @gyngyn @LizzyM @QofQuimica @Med Ed @gonnif @Law2Doc are all individuals who have been involved in the medical school admissions process, if I recall.)

Regardless, good luck in your progress in all of your pursuits, and I hope everyone reading this is having a great day.

[Edit: Sorry to all those users that were tagged. I had tried to include the names without the automatic tagging, but it appears that the @ symbol triggers it automatically, when I had thought we still had to manually click the generated name.]

 

[LizzyM]

While it is okay to mention if you wish to do so, it is not dishonest to choose to keep your health history private. No one needs to know this except your treating physician.

 

[Med Ed]

Thoughts?

For the record, I don't really want to risk calling my schools of interest to ask them about this before applying. Just in case...

Given the typical behavior of papillary thyroid carcinoma, as an adcom I would be more concerned about you having two young children in medical school than this particular diagnosis.

 

[ry_guy_chi]

While it is okay to mention if you wish to do so, it is not dishonest to choose to keep your health history private. No one needs to know this except your treating physician.

This.

I would tell your nontraditional story. You can bring up your aliment but I would not spend more then a couple sentences on it, and only incorporated if it fits into your story.

 

[oralcare123]

Hate to poop at your party here, but last year I was rejected only because I mentioned health problems. This was the only change with the year before, when I was waitlisted. Just wanted to show my resiliency and determination. I mentioned it without going into much detail and with the least emotions possible as was advised on MD forum. Hoping, that I was wrong, because it was a religious school. Anyway, think about it

 

[Med Ed]

Hate to poop at your party here, but last year I was rejected only because I mentioned health problems. This was the only change with the year before, when I was waitlisted.

There is a plethora of possible explanations for you being rejected the second time around. Admissions does not make for a very good science experiment.

 

[fayevalentine]

This was the only change with the year before, when I was waitlisted.

That sentence right there could be why you were rejected. If you didn't improve anything from one year to the next you did not show dedication to the field.

 

[oralcare123]

That sentence right there could be why you were rejected. If you didn't improve anything from one year to the next you did not show dedication to the field.

I didn't mention, that I am already a dentist from a not accredited dental program - really don't like to irritate local dentists. No one can have more dedication to the field then a citizen with a degree. I also don't consider a significant change changes in PS, LORs and EC activities and I really can't improve much more, just need a little bit of luck to get into Indian Dentist Program🙂
As I found out on MD forum, health problems should be disclosed as something resolved with no possible negative effect on the future education process, otherwise adcoms may see you as a risk of dropping out

 

[oralcare123]

There is a plethora of possible explanations for you being rejected the second time around. Admissions does not make for a very good science experiment.

Absolutely. One of the reasons, that I am too much of the risk