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An Interview with an RCMP Officer One survivor's journey to realizing his dream
From a young age, Jacob dreamed of being an RCMP officer. He didn’t let lymphoma stop him from pursuing this dream. Beginning during the summer of 2011, when he was 17, Jacob said he was blindsided with his cancer diagnosis after seeing a doctor about some unusual symptoms he was experiencing, such as a hard and large stomach and extreme sweating. Jacob said when he was diagnosed, the oncologist explained although his type of cancer was uncommon, it was highly treatable, which eased his concerns a bit. “It was a very intense time, but also a very intense chemotherapy regime,” Jacob said. “I’m sure no chemotherapy is easy to go through, but mine in particular was very intense. I had to get admitted to the hospital for a week while I got (the chemotherapy). I was on life support, I believe, twice.” When Jacob completed his treatment in January 2012, he went right back to school the next semester, and says his cancer journey became a foundation for pursuing a career in the RCMP. “Going through something like a chemotherapy treatment, then six months of training, it’s something you don’t necessarily want to do,” he said. “If you can go through a cancer treatment and get out better afterwards, I think it does give you that attitude ‘if I can do this, then I can do that.’” Jacob knew the eligibility requirements to enter the policing field, and his medical history worried him. After talking with some RCMP officers, he said he became less nervous. “I had some reassurances that if you’re fit for duty, then you’re fit for duty,” Jacob explained. “So regardless of your medical history, they can’t really discriminate on a medical past if it’s not applicable to how you’re going to perform in your career.” When disclosing his medical history, Jacob said he did need to divulge any relevant or past medical issues and the medications he was taking. But it wasn’t a problem for the RCMP’s medical team, and after completing his college degree at Mohawk College and acquiring a number of strong references, Jacob took the leap and applied. After a process lasting 15 months, Jacob achieved his dream and became an RCMP constable. Asked to give some advice to those who have gone through cancer and would like to pursue a similar career, he said this: “Your health is the most important thing. Just deal with that first and get better. But, that being said . . . from the RCMP’s perspective if you’re good to go, you’re good to go. Your medical past is not connected to who you are now.” About the Author Mariam Abdel-Akher is a 22-year-old journalism student at Carleton University and a childhood survivor of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Mariam loves to write, travel and spend time with her family and friends. She’s hoping one day she will pursue a career in international humanitarian aid, but still loves to write about other people’s experiences on the side. Mariam’s passion for helping other people and telling their stories stems from her experience with cancer and all the people that touched her life in the process. Mariam Abdel-Akher |
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