SPEP

SPEP - Structured Practical Experience Program.

Yep, I'm almost done 2 of 3 of my fourth year SPEPs. This week I will be wrapping up my fifth week at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre and I can't say that I'm not going to be a little disappointed. I really enjoy working at the Cancer Centre.

Over the past few weeks I've done everything from counsel patients on how not to get sick from their chemotherapy to feeling a patient's lymphoma tumor to see if it had grown (under medical supervision, of course). I participated in breast cancer surgery (actually scrubbed in and got my hands in there) and watched a stem cell harvest and transplant.

As my weeks ticked by I learned so much more than I ever thought was possible. Cancer is a huge array of diseases and there is so much we need to learn yet. There are many fascinating approaches to treating various cancers. Stem cell transplant was probably the most complex and involves boosting a patient's stem cells with drugs, sucking them out, destroying their bone marrow and then giving them their stem cells back. Its a lengthy and painful process and always leads to relapse... but we do it all the time.

My last week has culminated in the finsihing and delivering of my presentation on Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Induced Rash. I talked about a brand new side effect never before seen in anydrug therapy.

Although I have a contract in Regina for the next two years I think I'll keep my mind on this career path, there is so much potential.

Thanks for listening to me nerd out here.