The Cancer Crisis in Appalachia: Kentucky Students Take ACTION

by Nathan L. Vanderford (Editor), Lauren Hudson (Editor), Chris Prichard (Editor)

Overview

Kentucky has more cancer diagnoses and cancer-related deaths than any other state in the nation, and most of these cases are concentrated in the fifty-four counties that constitute the Appalachian region of the commonwealth. These high rankings can be attributed to factors such as elevated smoking rates, unhealthy eating habits, lower levels of education, and limited access to health care. What is lost in the statistics is just how life-changing cancer can be—something that editors Nathan L. Vanderford, Lauren Hudson, and Chris Prichard have endeavored to address.

The Cancer Crisis in Appalachia features essays written by a group of twenty high school and five undergraduate students, all of whom are residents of Kentucky's Appalachian region and are participants in the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center's Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) program, which is funded by the National Cancer Institute's Youth Enjoy Science Program. These authentic and candid student essays detail the effects of cancer diagnoses and deaths on individuals, families, friends, and communities, and proclaim these cases as more than nameless statistics. The authors shed light on personal cancer stories in hopes of inspiring readers to avoid cancer-risk behaviors, get involved with cancer-prevention initiatives, give generously, and uplift cancer patients and their loved ones.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781950690039
Publisher:	University Press of Kentucky
Publication date:	04/07/2020
Pages:	146
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	18 - 17 Years

About the Author

Nathan L. Vanderford is assistant professor of toxicology and cancer biology at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He holds several administrative positions at the University of Kentucky, including director of administration at the Center for Cancer and Metabolism, assistant director for research at the Markey Cancer Center, and director of the Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) program. Lauren Hudson is a former resident adviser for the Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) residential summer program and is involved in cancer research at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center. She is coauthor of the Students Leading America series and author of the Ascension series. Chris Prichard is program coordinator for the Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) program at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

High School Student Essays

Cancer: The Emotional Side William Adams 3

Cancer in Eastern Kentucky Natalie Barker 8

On the Breaking Point Rachel Collins 13

Survivor's Guilt Andrew Davison 21

Careless Cancer Holly Dickens 26

Cancer: A War on the Home Front Zachary Hall 30

A Monster That Kills Abigail Isaacs 36

The Worst of Both Worlds Shahid Jabbar 41

Kentucky: The Cancer Capital of the United States Julie Kiser 46

The Strength of Family Triumphs All Kinley Lewis 51

The Greatest Ideas Are the Simplest: Educating Kentuckians on Cancer Nolan Marcum 60

Tales into Legacies Alyviah Newby 67

Ripped at the Seams Katelyn Nigra 72

Cancer Is Not a Vacation Solomon Patton 78

The Question Brianna Reyes 82

What Cancer Is in My Life Megan Schlosser 87

It Cant Happen to Me Kaitlin Schumaker 92

Cancer: Kentucky's Disease Spencer Shelton 97

You Never Plan for Cancer Haleigh Thompson 101

Day In and Day Out Ethan Tiller 107

Undergraduate Student Essays

Appalachian Rose: Wilted by Geography Lauren K. Collett 117

Malignancy in the Mountains Susanna Goggans 125

A Rural State of Mind on the Path to a Better Future Matthew Melton 131

Fighting Cancer in My Old Kentucky Home Carrigan Wasilchenko 134

Roots Emory Wilds 139

Acknowledgments 143

About the Editors 145

What People are Saying About This

Tom Martin

"By capturing the voices of young Appalachians who aspire to oncology careers, The Cancer Crisis in Appalachia delivers the message that this 'persistently cruel' disease, as a Clay County author describes it, grips our state like no other in the nation. The book is an inspiring call to action by students who are devoting their futures to ridding their communities of the scourge of cancer."

From the Publisher

"By capturing the voices of young Appalachians who aspire to oncology careers, The Cancer Crisis in Appalachia delivers the message that this 'persistently cruel' disease, as a Clay County author describes it, grips our state like no other in the nation. The book is an inspiring call to action by students who are devoting their futures to ridding their communities of the scourge of cancer." — Tom Martin, host of Eastern Standard on WEKU, NPR for Central and Eastern Kentucky

"A must-read for all Kentuckians, this book offers a perspective grounded not in statistics but in the firsthand experiences of young Kentuckians who have grown up in a state ravaged by cancer. More importantly, it offers hope, showcasing a generation of young minds who have been inspired by their personal experiences to pursue careers in medicine, seeking to improve the lives of those in their own communities." — B. Mark Evers, MD, Director, Markey Cancer Center

B. Mark Evers

"A must-read for all Kentuckians, this book offers a perspective grounded not in statistics but in the firsthand experiences of young Kentuckians who have grown up in a state ravaged by cancer. More importantly, it offers hope, showcasing a generation of young minds who have been inspired by their personal experiences to pursue careers in medicine, seeking to improve the lives of those in their own communities."

Editorial Reviews

By capturing the voices of young Appalachians who aspire to oncology careers, The Cancer Crisis in Appalachia delivers the message that this 'persistently cruel' disease, as a Clay County author describes it, grips our state like no other in the nation. The book is an inspiring call to action by students who are devoting their futures to ridding their communities of the scourge of cancer.

Tom Martin

A must-read for all Kentuckians, this book offers a perspective grounded not in statistics but in the firsthand experiences of young Kentuckians who have grown up in a state ravaged by cancer. More importantly, it offers hope, showcasing a generation of young minds who have been inspired by their personal experiences to pursue careers in medicine, seeking to improve the lives of those in their own communities.

B. Mark Evers