Presidential Speech TxTRA 2012
When conversations regarding a theme for the 2012 meeting were being
discussed the subject of TIME came up and the idea for a slogan
“It’s About Time”, which can have two meanings. One refers to
procrastination and the other could be about time itself such as
“Time Management” or “Where did all the time go”. Some wonderful
ideas were discussed related to time BUT it also reminded me of
exactly how much time has gone by since I first began working in the
Cancer Registry and how that came about.
Thirty one years ago I was working in TB Control at the State Health
Department and there was a young woman working by herself in the
Cancer Registry office in Arlington. My husband had testicular
cancer and I kept thinking if I could go to work for her I bet I
could learn all I needed to know about his illness. Well fortunately
there was an opening, and little did I know at the time that I was
actually walking into what would turn out to be a career in the
Cancer Registry field. It’s an exciting and challenging career and
I’ve made some wonderful friends over the years. My husband died
from metastatic testicular cancer 1982. And with the passing of time
since his death they have made great improvements in the treatment
of testicular cancer and other cancers as well. It makes you wonder
what improvements there will be in another 30 years and what changes
will be coming our way in the Cancer Registry. The registry has gone
through many changes in requirements over the years and there will
be more to come. But with all of these changes come continued
improvement in treatment and patient care as we have seen over the
years.
Time has and does definitely get away and after 30 years I’m very
proud to serve the TxTRA organization as President and I’m looking
forward to the coming year.
And with the coming of the new TxTRA year, let no more time pass,
consider running for office or serving on a committee. I guarantee
it will be a rewarding experience!
