Hi Everyone, as some of you know, I am a Childhood Cancer Survivor. In a previous post I mentioned the The Parkway Run to benefit The Cancer Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia that is being held this Sunday, September 28th. (Also my husbands birthday, Happy Birthday Babe).

In CHOP's effort to bring awareness to this disease and the effects it has on patients, they called and asked if they could interview me, and speak about the Late-Term Effects of Adults that overcame their Childhood Cancer. At first I was hesitant, wondering why me, there has to be a better story then mine. But of course accepted the offer in hopes that sharing my story will help raise awareness as well as money for the walk this Sunday.

Most people dont know that the Drugs that help patients conquer Cancer are so strong that they take an incredible toll and at such a young age they can effect many other parts of your growing body. Some of the late effects are Heart/Cardiovascular Disease, Respiratory Disease, Growth & Development problems, Second Cancers and Infertility.

As a direct result of my Cancer Treatments, I have Cardiomyopathy (Heart Disease) and Restrictive Lung Disease. My Doctors also thought that I would be dealing with Infertility too, since my ovaries were in fact radiated and the type of Chemotherapy I received can have a negative effect on reproduction. But, as most of you know, I was blessed with my wonderful son, Mason! Not only is conceiving a concern for Childhood Cancer survivors but carrying a child is also a major concern, especially when Heart Disease and Lung Disease are present. But we proved them wrong and Mason is here and we couldnt be happier.

I was so nervous about the Interview, I felt incredibly vain talking about myself, but Denise and her camera man Brian were great and made our whole family feel at ease. She asked me about what my thoughts were on these late effects that cancer survivors are dealing with, my hopes for the children fighting today and my feelings about how they may have to fight again later in life as an Adult. We also spoke about infertility and how it is now becoming a such a concern that young adults (teenagers) are presented with the options of freezing their eggs or sperm just in case they cant conceive later. What a "grown-up" decision to make at such a young age. Another side effect of Childhood Cancer, the fact that you have to grow up so fast, deal and see things that some people will never deal with their whole lives, face death in the face and beat it!

The clip is supposed to air Tonight, Friday September 26th, on the 5 o'clock news on NBC 10. I hope I dont end up on the cutting room floor! haha.

Thanks Denise and Brian, for making it so easy and comfortable to share my story!