Blog 27: Self-Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your 2-Hour Presentation and/or your senior project? Why?

I most proud of pulling off the plan I put together in full with the exception of not having the time to show a few videos.  I also like how interactive the presentation was.   

(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your 2-Hour Presentation (self-assessment)? Why?

AE            P +           AP            CR            NC

I met the requirements on the contract presenting for 30 minutes, running a few activities, and decorating my room.

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)? Why?

AE             P            AP            CR            NC

I stood out in a number of ways.  For example, I researched more than expected, did additional formal and informal interviews, worked over 110 hours at El Monte Hospital and took two college courses related to preparing me for a future in my project. I also did well on the exit interview and the components like the science fair.

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

• 2-hour
• Science Fair
• Volunteering at a hospital
• Finding a skin cancer textbook
• Interviews with a variety of people
• Knocking two birds with one stone by having similar research for Model Assembly and my senior project

(4) What didn’t work for you in your senior project?

• I didn't have an opportunity to work at a place like the City of Hope or Children's Cancer Hospital in Los Angeles
• Three-Column
• Towers

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples. 

I think it gave me more confidence that I can be more competitive at the next level. I also have a real interest in helping patients with cancer in the future.  

2hr Presentation Links

Activity:

Activity 1:  Cell Model
Activity 2:  Cancer Interactive

Presentation:

MOHS Surgery

Laser Surgery 

Photodynamic Therapy

Simple Excision

Curettage and electrodesiccation

Blog 26: 2-Hour Lesson Plan

My presentation plan

Blog 25: Service Learning

LIA Response to blog:

    Literal

·       Log of specific hours with a total and a description of your duties

The log is located on the right hand side of the blog. I worked 110 hours this year.   I mainly worked in two different areas, the ER and the front entrance area. 

·       Contact Name & Number

(626) 579-7777  Mary K. in the volunteer office

    Interpretive

    What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?

I experienced the hospital environment and connected with different people in different jobs at the hospital.   I realized after the 110 hours and some interviews in local oncology groups in the area, I prefer the smaller oncology groups versus the daily feel of the hospital.  

   Applied

  How did what you did help you answer your EQ?  Please explain.

Except for getting contacts to talk to, El Monte Hospital sent patients with cancer to other hospitals or offices, so I really didn't get much direct experience in helping me answer my EQ.   I did get contacts with radiologist and an oncology group located in West Covina.  I did learn much about the hospital environment which prepares me for a future career in the medical field.  

Blog 24: Independent Component 2

Literal

(a) Statement saying: “I, Jacquelyn Huynh Vu, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.” 

(b) Explanation of what you completed.

Similar to my first independent component, I am taking a math class at Cal Poly and I have completed an additional 30 hours (total of 110 hours) of volunteering at El Monte Hospital.  

Interpretive

Defend your work and explain how the significant parts of your component and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work.

1.  Math class:  I am taking Pre-Calculus on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 2:15-3:20 at Cal Poly.  

2.  El Monte Hospital:  Click here for my log of hours.  I volunteer usually two days a week for 3-5 hours at a time.  As a volunteer, I mainly help out with working in the front entrance and delivering things like flowers or working in the emergency room and helping with paperwork. And I have shadowed different people like their radiology therapist. 

Applied

How did it help you answer your EQ?  Be specific and use examples.

1.  The math class is helpful because it prepares me for Calculus.  For me to get into medical school or do something significant with patients with skin cancer, I need to take a certain level of math courses. 

2.  I am not working with anybody that specifically works with patients with skin cancer at El Monte Hospital.   But I am working in the hospital environment to give me a feel for what the field is like. For example, in working in the emergency room, I see the stress related to patients and workers when  there are serious issues going on there.  

Blog 23: Junior Interview

Interview: Stephany Huynh

Date: April 18, 2012

(1) What ideas do you have for your senior project and why?

For my senior project, I was debating between two topics: Autism teaching or computer engineering.  I ended up choosing autism because I am actually considering this as a career.

Feedback: I suggested to her that she do something that interests her but also something that helps her pick a major in college. 

(2) What do you plan to do to complete the 10 hours of service learning (working with an expert) which is due prior to senior year starting?  Note: They also have to complete the 50 hours during the school year.

So, I’ve gone to a meeting with the vice principal at East San Gabriel PAU.  I plan on starting before the school year ends.   However, when I went to the meeting Mr. Hollings (vice-principal) told me he will email a teacher and he will give me a call. 

Feedback: I suggested to her to not be reserved, participate as much as possible and ask questions. 

(3) What do you hope to see or expect to see when watching the class of 2012 present their two hour presentations?

I hope that I see different ways to manage time when presenting so that I can learn them.   I also want to learn about different careers in case something else spikes my interest for my senior project.

Feedback: I suggested she participate in and ask questions about all the projects she sees to get a feel for what they are doing.

(4) What questions do they have about senior project?  What additional recommendations would you give the 2013 student about senior project?  Be specific and note what you told them.

Should I join a club or ASB?  Do colleges look at this?

What additional recommendations did you give them?

Feedback 1: Be sure to stand out in the bigger components (2-hour, service learning, independent components, science, i-search, 3-column, 4^th interview)

Feedback 2: Stay current on research and use research checks effectively

Feedback 3:  I suggested to my sister to join ASB or start my own club.   I also told her to get involved with as many activities as possible senior year.  

Research Check 15

53. AV Chemotherapy Cancer Treatments and Side Effects

Expert: Dr. David Cathcart

• Color of the skin can reflect the side effect
• It can include deep sores, color changes, red flushed skin
• Dr. Cathcart is an occupational medicine physician at the Heartland Regional in Missouri

53. AV Dr. Mejia discusses skin cancer treatments

• Mohs is a surgerical procredure that helps you remove all the cancer cells and do less damage to the skin around it
• Mohs is also a same day procedure
• Dr. Mejia is also trained in plastic surgery techniques
• Discussing other options other than surgery, such as radiation therapy or a combination of treatments
• Radiation therapy (hospital), Scrape it and burn it approach, cutting it out, liquid nitrogen (for pre-cancer)
• Mohs is the balance or the best approach
• It is named after Frederick Mohs.  It is the removal of the skin cancer, examining the margins to make sure all the cancer is out. 
• .Discusses the 3 types of skin cancer, noting what I already know which is melanoma is the most dangerous one

53.  AV Dr. Meija does a follow up with a patient

• Dr. Meija removed the basal skin cancer. It was basal. It was on his head and 3-4 inches wide. 
• Dr. Meija had to do a plastic surgery after removing the skin cancer, but he was able to repair the scar.
• Skin cancers can do some serious damage to the skin around it also.

53. AV Treating Melanom

• 60,000 new cases every year
• People identified early can be helped
• There are 4 stages of melanoma
• Stage 1 and 2 is it hasn’t spread yet
• Stage 3 is when it has spread to the tumor
• Stage 4 is when it has spread past the tumor to your brain or other significant parts
• Excision is always the first step, but Stage 3 and 4 is to follow up with additional therapies.  Immunotherapy or radiation therapy is used as follow up after excision.  Radiation therapy is only used for Stage 4 or people who can’t be helped by surgery.  Chemotherapy is also used after excision if follow up is needed. 

53. AV Photodynamic Therapy

• No needles, just cream for this treatment
• The cream creates a toxin to kill the skin cancer cells
• The device has a UVC light that activates the cream and converts the chemical in the cream into a toxin in about 3 hours
• It kills the cancer cell and does not damage the skin around it
• They are working on making the Photodynamic machine smaller so patients can take home the treatment

54. AV  Skin Cancer Surgery

• Cancer is located on his chest

• Inject a needle of something around the skin cancer, probably to numb the pain
• Cutting around the cancer, where the surgeon was injecting the pain killer
• Then cutting out the skin cancer cell
• An assistant immediately puts a cloth on the area to stop the bleeding
• The surgeon then continues to cut to make sure they got all the cancer cell out
• It looks like the final step is to stitch up the wounded area

Blog 22: Answer 3

What is the best way to treat skin cancer?

Answer 3: Chemotherapy where the cancer cells are attacked by a drug that is either taken internally or applied on the skin.

Evidence:

• The drugs being used are specifically monitored and prepared to kill the cancerous cells in a patient.
• A drug called fluorouracil (5-FU) is used to treat basal cell and squamous cell cancers that are located only on the top layer of the skin.
• A drug called imiquimod is used to treat basal cell cancer that is located only in the top layer of skin.
• Two types of chemotherapy: Injection through the vein or topical cream (also a tablet).
• Only a few drugs (damouth regime) are for stage IV melanoma, usually chemo is for nonmelanoma.

Sources:

• Cancer of the Skin
• Julie Arroyo
• Daniel Rigel

Research Check 14

51. Berman, Russell. Skin Cancer: Surgical Management of Melanoma. NY Cancer Institute, 4 Aug. 2011. Web. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j50ULW7vXa0>.

L: Three levels of treatment:

o   Local

o   Regional

o   Distant or systemic metastases

Get your pathology report

·      determines the surgical intervention

·      the stage of the tumors

·      deep, thickness

·      thickness of the melanoma is crucial to how it is treated

·      presence of ulceration (skin breaks down, such as bleeding)

·      mitotic rate tells you what to do also

I:  The pathology report is significant to understand so the oncologist team knows what is best for you.

Local (wide excision)

·      to remove the tumor cells, because melanoma does not go in a straight line

·      to reduce the cosmetic damage and muscle damage

·      Randomized trial done:  less than 1m thick, we take a 1 cm excision, 1-2 mm, we take a 1-2 cm, 2-4 mm, we take a 2 cm margin excision compared to 1906, they took the 2 in excision

·      Examples of how excision is closed

I:  Russell Berman shows significant gain over the last 100 years in the wide excision.  I am surprised how exact they can be to get the tumor. 

Regional (Lymph Node)

·      Surgery or removal hasn’t meant you will live longer, so much question regarding this process

·      If the node is negative, then the surgeon is done, if it is positive, then it is standard to look at again to see if it spread

·      The thicker the melanoma the more concerning it is

·      Offered to anybody with melanoma of 1mm or larger, but meant for larger mm

I:  Difficult to comprehend.  The thicker the melanoma, more likely it is called regional.   It seems like we have less success with this melanoma using surgery, almost sounded like hit and miss if we stop the spreading effectively the first time.

Systemic

·      Spreading to the brain, lungs, etc

·      Typically don’t think of surgery, but can go after each part using surgery

I: Didn’t speak much on it, because another speaker at the conference was going to speak on it. 

Multidisciplinary Treatment and follow up

·      Surgeons, Dermatologist, Medical Oncologist, Radiology Oncologist

I:  It is important to see there are many different roles in helping a patient.   This list does not include the assistants such as the radiologist. 

 52. US News. U.S.News & World Report, 21 July 2009. Web. 12 Apr. 2012. <http://health.usnews.com/health-conditions/cancer/skin-cancer/treatment>.

All skin cancers are treatable.  Surgery is the first option usually.

Sometimes the biopsy (the scraping of it to test it) removes it, “doctors use surgery, radiation therapy, topical chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (treatment with drugs that become active when exposed to light), or a combination of methods to treat basal and squamous cell skin cancers.”

I:  There is no one thing a team can do.  It is whatever works.  Surgery is the first option usually though.

Moh’s surgery:  thin layer is removed

Cryosurgery:  freezes it

Laser surgery:  destroy the skin cancer

Electrodesiccation: scraping and burning

I: There are a number of additional treatments depending on the situation. 

Blog 21: Three-Column Chart

Three-Column Chart

Blog 20: Room Environment and Activity idea

(1) How do you plan to address the room creativity expectation?

I want to mirror the hospital environment.  I am thinking to take everything off the wall and use white to show a clean environment. 

(2) What activity ideas do you have for answer 1 or 2?

I really do not know.   I want to do an identification type of activity.  I don’t know exactly how it will look.  

Research Check #13

Etiological Factors in Skin Cancers:
Environmental and Biological
(Chapter 5)

Jacquelyn Huynh Vu
March 16, 2012

1. The cause of the vast majortity of basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer and melanoma is exposure to UV.

Skin cancer has to do with multiple factors
Endogeneous (e.g. genes)
Exogenous (e.g. Ultraviolet Radiation)

The interaction between these factors is complex and they usually act synergistically in the multistage process of Carcinogenesis:
Tumor initiation
Promotion
Premalignant progression
Malignant conversion of normal skin cells into skin cancers

Research focuses on squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), since only that skin cancer can be reliably reproduced in animal models.


2.  Development of skin cancer

• Genes vs.  UV, ionizing, viruses, chemicals, dyes, arsenic and more (Endogenous vs. Exogenous)

3.  Stages of Carcinogensis

• Initation: damage is caused
• Promotion: expansion or copy of cells
• Premalignant conversion: more instability, some obvious skin damage seen
• Malignant progression: skin cancer

4. Ultraviolet radiation

What it is?
How does it effect the skin?
UVA, UVB, UVC, Visible and Infra-red
UVA is most important because most of the UV reaching your skin is UVA
People living closer to the equator are exposed more (2.4 fold higher incidents)
People immigrating from Australia (who live there at a young age) have had higher incidents of skin cancer

Blog 19: Answer 2

What is the best way to treat skin cancer?

The term skin cancer refers to three different conditions:

• ·      Basal cell carcinoma (most common)
•     Squamous cell carcinoma
•     Melanoma (most serious because it spreads)

“To plan the best treatment for each patient, the doctor considers the location and size of the cancer, the risk of scarring, and the person's age, general health, and medical history.”

Answer 2: Scooping out the basal by using a curette (spoon like tool), then electric current to stop the bleeding and kill the rest of the cancer cells or Surgical excision (tumor is cut out) and stitched up

Evidence:

·      Basal cell carcinoma almost never spreads, but do grow and invade other tissue.  It is also the most common

·      Using curette is best for small cancers and for Basal and Squamous

·      Melanoma: After biopsy, the doctor may find

o   No need of treatment, just a mole

o   Atypical mole (take off a little bit of mole and surrounding skin to be safe)

o   Surgery (removing ½ inch of tissue around the Melanoma, unless if more severe, then may go deeper)

Sources:

Arroyo, Julie. Personal interview. 24 Feb. 2012.

Griffen, Daren.   Personal Interview.   13. February 2012

Rigel, Daniel S. Cancer of the Skin. Philadephia: Elsevier Saunders, 2005. Print.

Science Fair

Blog 18: The Product

 Blog 18: The Product

My outcome of my experience is I think I work better under pressure now.  

Evidence

Service Learning & Independent Component 2

Interview 4

• Service Learning & Independent Component 2: I am volunteering in the ER at El Monte Hospital.   I mainly help organize in the office, but I have had an opportunity to observe doctors and nurses working under pressure.
• I also feel like I was learning the importance of working under pressure in both of my fourth interviews
• I also have been balancing a lot with core, senior project, Senior Class ASB, ASB, and scholarship applications.  

Interviews

I have interviewed two experts in the field for my fourth interview.  I asked both 20 questions.  My first one was with Daren Griffin, a radiologist therapist.  I learned about the different types of skin cancer and what a patient goes through when they are treated with skin cancer.  I also interviewed Julie Arroyo from the Wilshire Oncology Medical Group.  I learned much about chemotherapy and how a medical group is managed. Julie also gave me a tour of the place.  I plan to do two more interviews by April.  Julie Arroyo suggested I talk to a doctor who recently retired and I want to talk to someone who has had skin cancer.

Science Fair Update

I finished the experiment and the lab report.  I learned much about the active ingredients in sunscreen and how sunscreen protects our skin from UVA and UVB rays. I am now working on the Science Fair.

Service Learning Update: El Monte Hospital

I have worked for 28 hours of my goal of 100 hours.  This is on February 21st prior to starting to volunteer. I worked in the front entrance and in the ER.

Blog 17: Fourth Interview Questions

I have already completed a 20 question interview with Darren Griffen, a radiation therapist.  I have a second interview arranged on February 23rd with a nurse who works in an oncology department.   I plan to ask her 20 questions also.   I am also looking for one more interview for March.  I have contacted the City of Hope, UCLA and a few other places.  

1. What is the best way to treat skin cancer?

2. How does radiation therapy help treat skin cancer?  

3. What experiences have you had with working with patients with skin cancer?

4. What experiences have you had with working with patients with other types of cancer?

5. What does a typical day at work like?

6.  How many patients do you see a day?  For how long? 

7.  What experiences have you had with Basal cell carcinoma?

8.  What experiences have you had with Squamous cell carcinoma?

9.  What experiences have you had with Cutaneous lymphomas?

10. What experiences have you had with Kaposi sarcoma?

11.  What experiences have you had with Merkel cell carcinoma?

12.  What is the process for a new patient with skin cancer?

13. How does the radiation therapy work or it is given?

14. Who will be responsible for my radiation treatment?

15. How long will each treatment take?  How is treating skin cancer compared to other types of cancer?

16. How many sessions does a patient see you?

17. What side effects can I expect?

18. What side effects should I report to the doctor?

19. What are my alternative treatments?

20. What do you suggest I eat during radiation treatments?

21.  What do I put on my skin if I get "burned" by the treatments?

Blog 16: Independent Component 2 Plan Approval

TITLE:  Independent Component 2 Plan Approval

LABEL: Independent Component

DUE DATE:  Friday 2-17 by 8AM

CONTENT:

 (1) Write a description of what you plan on doing for your independent study component.

I plan to complete an additional 30 hours of service learning at El Monte Hospital.  I also plan to take a minimum of one more college class. I will take either the next level Math course (preparation for Calculus) or Biology or both before I graduate. 

(2) Describe in detail how you think your plan will meet the 30 hours work requirement.

I work Tuesday and Thursday at El Monte Hospital.  I plan to work there for a total of 150 hours.

The college courses require so many hours a week, which I will do on Monday and Wednesday.

(3) How does your independent study component relate to your EQ?  

El Monte Hospital does not have anybody who specializes in skin cancer.    I was not able to get in at a hospital with someone with that speciality because they told I needed to come to the last March orientation.  I have learned much about the atmosphere of a hospital and how to interact with patients who are scared. 

I am taking the Math and Biology courses because they are general education and they are required for me to major in a science field.   I think by taking the courses I will be more prepared for the more difficult courses I need to take in order to apply to medical school. 

Blog 15: Independent Component 1

Literal

(a) Statement saying: “I, Jacquelyn Huynh Vu, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.” 

(b) Explanation of what you completed.

I took Math 106 at Cal Poly Pomona during the Fall 2011 quarter.

The circular functions, general reduction formulas, inverse functions, graphs, exponential and logarithmic functions, Law of Sines, Law of Cosines, identities and complex numbers.

1. Degree and radian measure

2. Definition of the trigonometric functions

3. Graphing trigonometric functions

4. Trigonometric identities

5. Inverse trigonometric relations and functions

6. Solving equations with trigonometric expressions

7. Solving triangles

8. Complex numbers

Interpretive

Defend your work and explain how the significant parts of your component and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work.

I took this class Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1-2:05 PM.  I also had to do homework for every class and study for quizzes, midterm and a final.

Total Class Hours: 35 hours

Total Study/Homework Hours: 30 hours

Total Hours:  65 hours

Applied

How did it help you answer your EQ?  Be specific and use examples.

The course did not help me answer my EQ directly.  But it did increase my mathematical knowledge, which I will need as I take more advanced science and math courses for a future career in oncology.  For example, to get into medical school to study oncology, I need at least Calculus.  To take Calculus, I needed to take Math 106 and I need to take the Pre-Calculus next.   I can then take Calculus. 

I have included evidence from my Bronco Direct account that I completed the course.  I have whited-out my grades, but I will show Purther my grade.

Blog 14: 20 Minute Presentation

20 minute presentation lesson plan
20 minute presentation outline

I am not sure what activity I will do. I may use this activity.

Skin test

Blog 13: Senior Project 2 hour House Meeting 1

What is the best way to treat skin cancer?

ANSWER:

Identify how the skin cancer formed

EVIDENCE

Overexposure to the sun or UV radiation

DNA damage

Over-producing cells

SOURCE

Schofield, Jill R., and William A. Robinson. What You Really Need to Know about Moles and Melanoma.

Blog 12: Service Learning

1. Where are you working for service learning?

I am working at El Monte Hospital.

2.  Who is your contact?

My contact is Pam. She is the lead in the volunteer office.

3. Summarize the services you have performed

I have been mainly involved in patient support and in the front area helping.   Here is my log.   I have also put it next to working bibliography on the blog.

4.  How many hours have you worked?

I have met the requirement. I currently have completed 16 hours.

Science Fair Update

I finally found all the materials I need to complete my science fair experiment.  

1/5 Going to service learning at El Monte Hospital

Blog 11: Third Interview Questions

I will be interviewing a radiologist at El Monte Hospital.

My 10 questions:

What is most important to being a successful radiologist oncologist who specializes in skin cancer?
What services or what does this hospital do to help someone with skin cancer?
Who should I talk to at El Monte who can also help me with radiology?
What should I talk to at El Monte who can also help me with skin cancer?
What experiences have you had related to patients with cancer or skin cancer?
What will my duties be for my volunteer job at the hospital? What difficulties to volunteers typically have?
Do you have volunteers who have been hired at El Monte after so many hours of volunteering?   What are they doing?  How did they move from volunteering to employment?  Can I talk to them?
What experiences have employees at El Monte Hospital had with skin cancer?  What is most common experience?
What treatments are out their for skin cancer?
What is the common procedure when a patient comes into the emergency room with something that could be skin cancer?

I also plan to interview Dr. Alas at Cal Poly Pomona. I plan to ask him:

1.  What courses do you teach at Cal Poly and can you tell me a little about each one?

2.  What current project are you working in your lab? 

3.  What work or other work have you done with cancer or patients with cancer?   

4.  What other responsibilities do you have at Cal Poly?

5.  What is most important to becoming a successful radiologist oncologist who specializes in skin cancer?

6.  What is the best way to treat melanoma skin cancer?

7.  What would you suggest I study with regard to skin cancer?  

8.  What did you think of the new law banning minors from tanning?  Is there other cancer related issues do you see the federal or state governments getting involved in banning or discouraging?

9.  What suggestions do you have to prevent skin cancer?

10.  Do you have any suggestions regarding what I could read or who I could talk to on the Cal Poly Pomona campus?