Although this is just the beginning of an 8 week internship, I have already seen many cultural and societal differences between the US Healthcare system and the Irish. Since beginning my internship, I have determined biomarkers for different types of ovarian cancer and learned a great deal about how the lack of availability and lack of access to healthcare has impacted those diagnosed. My supervisor, Dr. Lucy Norris who has over 30 years background on the many different types of ovarian cancer gave a lecture and mentioned that over 70% of those who are diagnosed with different types of ovarian cancer are often too late to their diagnosis. Although she didnt mention specifically, I am almost positive that the lack of access and year long waits to see providers is the leading cause for the late diagnoses. Although another leading cause iof these late diagnoses is the weak and general symptoms including, bloating, nasuea, and abdominal pain. All of these symptoms could mean a plethora of things, which makes ovarian cancer so deadly.
On the brighter side, my supervisor Dr. Norris is a large advocate for “BEAT” which is a nonprofit that advocates for ovarian symptom awareness. BEAT stands for Bloating, Eating less, Abdominal pain and Toilet changes which are considerably the least prevelant symptoms that end in more extreme cases. These synptoms can be a sign of anything which makes this disease hardly detectable.
I think this will impact my future learning by making me think outside the box and always giving the benefit of the doubt. Especially if I move onto a graduate program like PA School, I will be faced with patients that have symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain etc, and by opening up and doing everything I can to prevent a late stage diagnosis of anything, not even just something like ovarian cancer. By doing this for patients, I will not only help them but I will be helping myself so I can learn from them and hopefully benefot anothe patient that presents with similar symptoms. Dr. Norris has also taught me the importance of advocacy. Although it has only been a few days, her strength and passion for helping others has already influence my learning goals and has lead me to become more invloved in organizations like BEAT.
I have attached some images from my first week here in Dublin!
Here is me on my flight to Dublin!
while on a walk to explore, I came accross this “mini marathon” that a bunch of people were running. it was to raise money for cancer!
An authentic and old irish pub my friends and I visitied our first few days!
Friends and I at one of the best steakhouses in Dublin.