The Balance

I think one of the most important characteristics of being a doctor is the ability to recognise your own faults, and I'll admit that this year I got the work-life balance completely wrong.
Applying to medicine has become increasingly competitive, and so the need for good grades has become more important than ever before. Although I don't regret the amount of work I've done this year, in reflection I approached the challenge in an incredibly unsustainable and almost obsessive way.

At the start of the school year I quit netball, rowing and started to run less often, thinking it would give me more time to revise, more time to mould myself into what I believed to be the perfect medical student, but in reality I had removed all outlets of stress. From September onwards I was revising for 5 to 6 hours after school each night and for 11 hours each day on the weekend. In hindsight, typing it now, it sounds absolutely ridiculous. Yes, as I doctor you need to work hard, but at the end of the day we're humans, not robots.

The stress began to increase steadily, not that I would admit it at the time. Any sign of weakness would be supressed and hidden away. I put so much pressure on myself to do well that I lost sight of what's really important in life. As a result, I ended up having a panic attack in my first exam for maths. However, in some ways, it was almost a rather positive experience, it was the wake up call I needed to show me that I couldn't keep up the intensity of work forever, or else I would just burn out. After the experience, I was able to reflect on what I had done and what I needed to do to improve my work-life balance. My exams have finished and  I've made it my goal to try and get that 'work-life balance' which is so essentiel when perusing a naturally stressful and high pressure career.

Book Review

In between revision it's been quite hard to keep on top of extra reading for the past few weeks. However, I found this book in my school library on Thursday and from the moment I opened it I have been completely unable to put it down. In Stitches is a fantastic book for any student hoping to study medicine, Dr. Nick Edwards, an A&E junior doctor, writes  with a refreshing honesty, exploring the highs and lows of working for the NHS. His brilliant sense of humour features throughout the book as he delves into the weird and wonderful cases he has witnessed during his career, but he also manages to approach truly heart-breaking incidents with a sensitivity that makes them feel all the more real. The book is separated into multiple short chapters, each one detailing a new patient experience, the misconceptions of medicine as a glamorous lifestyle, the reward of working in such a high pressure environment and his ever increasing frustration with the rise of middle management. I absolutely loved this book, and I am sure I say this for almost every book I read, but it was by far one of the best medical related books I have read!

January Book Review

Hi everyone, with my As exams fast approaching, I haven't had much time to write any blog posts for the past few weeks, however I recently read an article in New Scientist which has given me an idea for a future post which I look forward to sharing with you. In the mean time, I've decided to write another book review.                          


What is Life - Erwin Schrödinger

                                                             
Before I begin to discuss this fantastic book itself, I would like to start by introducing you to the author, Erwin Schrödinger. Schrödinger was an Austrian, Nobel prize winning quantum physicist who, through his work, undeniably changed the way we view the connection between physics and biology. He developed the basis of wave mechanics, and had a strong fascination for philosophy and theoretical biology, Schrödinger's cat .

In 1943, he began a series of lecture in Trinity College, Dublin which led to "What is Life?" being published in 1944. The book is an absolutely fascinating read which I would strongly recommend to anyone wishing to study Biology, Physics, Medicine or even Philosophy. Through his work, Schrödinger interlinks physics with biology, explaining how living things defy the 2nd law of thermodynamics ( entropy only increases in a closed system but living matter maintains positive entropy in an open system).Further explanation

Furthermore, he defied popular belief by suggesting that hereditary information is not passed on by proteins but instead by a "code script", leading him to introduce the idea of "aperiodic crystals". This fundamental idea acted as the foundations for Crick and Watson discovering the structure of DNA, arguably one of the most important scientific findings of the 20th century.
In the final chapter, Schrödinger takes a more philosophical approach, giving the book great variety.

Book Review

I've been really busy with school recently and haven't had the time to write anything for a while, so I thought I would post a quick book review to keep you all updated.

I was in my school library the other day looking for a Biology textbook when I stumbled across the "Succeeding in your Medical School Interview" guide by Tony Edgar and Matt Green. After hearing about some pretty horrific interview experiences, I decided it would be a good idea to read it.  The book is published by BPP Learning media in association with BPP school of health, and the format contrasts most of the other books I've read. Each chapter is separated under subheadings with bullet points and a quick summary section at the end of each chapter, making it an incredibly easy read. It takes you through the interview process, explaining what medical schools are looking for and has 9 guided practice questions with ideas on how to structure your answers and show your interest in medicine.

I've seen advertisements from companies which offer training days for interviews, with some of them costing over £300! However, personally I don't think they're worth the money when there are so many books such as this guide offering exactly the same information, but at a fraction of the price.

The book is part of a series under the School of Health, I plan on reading some of the other books over the next couple of months, and would definitely recommend it to anyone hoping to study medicine in the future!

Why Medicine?

On my first day back to school, starting in a new sixth form, I was promptly handed a piece of paper with a series of questions relating to my choices regarding university. One of the questions that stood out to me was " Why do you want to study medicine?" Although there is nothing peculiar about this  simple question, I was taken aback by the fact that I only had 4 lines to write on. 4 lines to explain why I wanted to dedicate my life to an often heart rending job consisting of long hours, high pressure and endless studying. I managed to produce a rather succinct but slightly vague answer, and wanted to write one of more detail, and so today I shall be discussing why I want to study medicine.

1. A Life Time of Learning
One of the factors that first ignited my passion and enthusiasm for medicine was its dynamic and consistently progressive nature. A quick glance at any newspaper or site will instantly show you that the world of medicine is rapidly changing for the better. New and innovative technological advances such as CRISPR, liquid biopsys and brain organoids are making the medical field exciting, pushing the boundaries of what we previously thought was possible. As a result, a career in medicine involves a life time of learning, in order to keep up to date with the latest developments. Furthermore, you are provided with numerous opportunities to apply your new found knowledge to "real life" problems, in order to change the world for the better. In addition, by becoming a doctor, you gain access to opportunities to join in this scientific revolution, researching unexplored areas, creating new treatments and eradicating diseases that were once looked upon as death sentences.

2. Greater Perspective on Life
 I think that one of the greatest misconceptions about a career in medicine is the idea that qualifying as a doctor instantly results in a glamorous lifestyle. The reality is rather different. When you study medicine, you don't commit yourself to a job, but to an entirely different way of life. The working hours are long, exams are constant, pressure is high and the work is often emotionally distressing. As I discussed in my last blog post, during my two weeks of working in histopathology, I was initially shocked by the merciless nature of disease and the tragic implications it caused. However, I also found the experience to be rather humbling, and now I believe I have a greater understanding of the fragility of life.

3. The Opportunity to Make a Difference
After contemplating studying  medicine for the past few years, in 2015, I decided that it was the career I most definitely wanted to pursue. Before I started Year 11, my grandma was diagnosed with acute myeloid Leukaemia, suspected to have been caused by previous radiotherapy she received. The prognosis was not hopeful, and she sadly died after a 2 week stay in hospital. Although the doctors and nurses were unable to save her, their empathy, altruism and genuine kindness helped to improve her quality of life towards the end, and reduce the shock for my family. Their behaviour is one of the contributing factors in my desire to be a doctor, no matter how experienced or qualified I become, it will be impossible to save every patient, but it will always be possible to make a positive difference to somebody's life.
4. The Ethos of Medicine
One of my favourite aspects of medicine is the ethos and moral values which all doctors strive to uphold and emulate. Integrity, professional, caring for others and looking past social conflicts, providing help for all those who require it. These are the key pillars that support a relationship of trust between doctors and patients leading to an improved quality of care. Although it may sound slightly vague and ambiguous, I see a great deal of honour in being  doctor, a career I could love and be proud of.
5. The Responsibility
Medicine is stressful, it's a fact which can not be contended, and one which you must consider carefully if you are thinking of a career in medicine. Personally, I tend to thrive under pressure producing a higher quality of work than I would when at ease. Working in the medical field comes with great responsibility, as your actions not only effect you, but also the team members you work with, your patients and their family. All of your work must be completed to a high standard and the simplest mistake could have catastrophic consequences. However, I believe that this high pressure environment would help me to lead a successful career.

E-cigarettes. A quick fix or a ticking time bomb?

In the past few years, the use of e-cigarettes has become increasingly common, with shops dedicated to vaping popping up in the majority of UK towns. Designed to help smokers quit, e-cigarettes deliver the nicotine craved by users and release a cloud of water vapour in order to replicate the appearance and feeling of smoking. In general, this new alternative is regarded as safer than the use of traditional cigarettes due to the absence of tar and some other harmful chemicals. However, in recent months I have been strongly irritated by the way in which e-cigarettes have been marketed as
safe and harmless, when in truth they have the potential to cause multiple health problems.

Do you notice the similarities?

E-cigarettes still contain the drug nicotine, which has been proven to be strongly addictive, causing withdrawal problems such as depression and feelings of agitation. Evidence suggests that it can have negative impacts on those with existing heart problems, and increases the risk of complications during pregnancy. Furthermore, some e-cigarettes contain formaldehyde, a substance used in antifreeze and building materials, proven to increase the risk of cancer.

Introduced to the American market in 2007, e-cigarettes have been used for a relatively short period of time, and so their long-term health risks remain unknown. Although they have the potential to be relatively safe, the uncertainty surrounding their use is worrying.

To make matters worse, the sale of e-cigarettes is incredibly uncontrolled, with 68% of sales made in the UK being illegal. The inability to control the sales and therefore quality of the product, only increases the potential risks to public health. In addition, a recent article published by the BBC stated that "40% of sellers targeted in an operation by trading standards in England" were found to be illegally selling e-cigarettes to under 18's. The easy access, low costs and alluring flavours such as bubble-gum, chocolate and pink lemonade, entice young people into using the devices even if they had not previously been smokers, putting the future generation's health at risk. The problem is not limited to the UK, but stretches across the pond to America, with a recent study by the CDC stating that "a quarter-million youth who had never smoked a cigarette used e-cigarettes in 2013".

With so little research into the long term health risks this new trend poses, it is impossible to say whether or not e-cigarettes truly are a quick fix to tobacco smoking, or a ticking time bomb in the public health sector.

The Harsh Reality of Medicine

As I told you in my previous post, I've spent the last two weeks on work experience in the histopathology unit of a local hospital. Prior to this, I thought I had a relatively good understanding of what being a doctor entails. I had been warned of the long working hours, the academic challenge, the tremendous responsibilities and I knew that not every patient can be saved. However, I underestimated the impact the utter human tragedy witnessed in this gruelling yet immensely rewarding career would have on me.

On my first day, despite being taken on a tour of the mortuary, I kept a stern face and was fully able to accept the concept of death as a natural and unavoidable occurrence. Inured and composed I continued with the work I had been assigned. However, yesterday I observed a change in my typical response to tragedy. The doctor I have been working with showed myself and another student cases from an account on forensic science and post-mortems, at first I was, once again,unaffected by the deaths recalled in the book. However, we soon turned over the page onto a section discussing still born babies who had been victims of deformities. As my eyes looked over photos of innocent victims of diseases such as Harlequin-type ichthyosis, cyclopia and encephalocele, the reality of medicine really hit home as I began to question the injustice inflicted upon the pure and helpless individuals. I find it difficult to put my new found feelings into words, at the time I showed no emotional response and continued to listen to the cases, but I feel that I need to write this blog post in order to acknowledge that emotion I felt. Perhaps it was a moment of vulnerability, perhaps realising that I would be unable to save some patients in the future but only provide support for their families, made be feel weak and helpless, out of control, an image I did not typically associate with medicine at the time.

By no means has this experience discouraged me from persuing my dreams of being a doctor, if anything, I now feel more inspired to reach my goal.

The experience was not all doom and gloom, whilst in the pathology laboratories, I was allowed to observe the rewarding aspect of medicine.  In one particular incident, I observed the 'cut-up' of two breasts, removed from a patient who had undergone a double mastectomy the previous day. One out of eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, making it a major disease in the Western world, and a disease which has had a personal impact on members of my family, making this case particularly intriguing. Within the labs, lymph nodes and sections of the breast surrounding the tumour were removed and converted into slides which were later sent up to the consultants for analysis. Fortunately, the cancer was not metastatic and the operation had been successful in saving the life of this particular patient.

After my experience in the pathology unit, I would definitely consider this area of medicine as a future career pathway. Pathology underpins the basis of all medicine and the consultants, although often have very little patient contact, determine the prognosis and treatment of the individual. They have a great  responsibility and play such a vital role in medicine, making it a challenging yet fascinating career choice.