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14 Tuesday May 12 2015 Minimum wage rate in the NWT The Honourable Jackson Lafferty Minister of Education Culture and Employment is pleased to announce that effective June 1 2015 the minimum wage rate in the NWT will be 12.50 per hour. For more information please visit www.ece.gov.nt.ca. By DALI CARMICHAEL Finding out he had cancer during his first week of college was one of the most unfor- tunate events to take place in Neil Ander- sens life. The freshman engineering student then 18 had just moved from his home town of Fort Smith and settled into his dorm room at Grande Prairie Regional College when he found out he was suffering from an aggres- sive form of testicular cancer. Now 22 Andersen feeling healthy and looking forward to moving onto his next life stage. However he wasnt always optimistic about his circumstances. Soon after his diagnosis was confirmed An- dersen was forced to drop out of school and return home for treatments. He immediately underwent surgery to remove the tumour but after two months of active surveillance doc- tors noticed the cancer had returned. Andersen started nine weeks of chemother- apy in November of 2011. He and his family followed a gruelling schedule flying to and from Yellowknife for treatments almost every week. Instead of attending classes or working a full-time job Andersen would spend up to eight hours a day receiving chemotherapy for up to three days in a row. Luckily territorial health care and his parents health insurance covered a majority of the associated costs. You wouldnt wish chemo on anyone even if you dont like them Andersen said de- scribing his experience with the treatment. Its just something that no one should have to go through. Andersen stopped his treatments just after Christmas on Dec. 28 2011. However his healing journey was not close to being fin- ished. In January 2012 he developed pneu- monia and as a result a lung infection. His right lung eventually collapsed and today about a quarter of it is scar tissue. The pain didnt stop there. In April of 2012 Andersen underwent a diagnostic surgery to examine why his lymph nodes had not shrunk to a pre-cancerous size. They aver- age lymph node is about 1 cm thick his were 1.5 cm enough for doctors to be concerned about the cancer spreading the start of a teratoma tumor or the development of scar tissue. Luckily it was the latter. But as a re- sult of that surgery Andersen developed an incisional hernia which had to be operated on in the winter of 2014. A path to recovery Andersen has not yet been declared can- cer-free though he is well on his way. He has had no recurrences over the past three years and once he hits the five-year mark he will earn the coveted title. He still has an ulcer that could be related to the multitude of pain medication he has taken over that last few years but otherwise he is fit happy and optimistic. Meeting Andersen one would never guess what he has been through. By nature he is relaxed and easygoing. The survivor said his perspective on life has been altered by his experiences. It changes your outlook on life your opin- ions especially at such a young age when youre ready to go out and tackle the world and you get sucker-punched by your health so to speak he said. Its kind of like well Im here. Ill take a look at my priorities because you have that extra time on your hands. You appreciate everything that little bit more. Andersen said the experience had an im- pact on his family as well. I feel like the immediate family dont know how to help. Everyone wants to help but its awkward because its never like What can I get for you its always like How are you feeling How are you doing Its like well Im doing shitty. They cant really help you. It would make them feel helpless I imag- ine because its something that you have no control over he said. From a parents perspective it would be like What did I do wrong But its not their fault at all its just science. Following his chemo treatment Andersen grew out his naturally blonde curly hair for several years. In late 2014 he chopped off his mop and donated it to be turned into a wig for another cancer patient. After not having hair for so long I wanted to do something productive with it while I still can grow hair he said joking that some baldness does run in his family. Now a first-year apprentice electrician with the Northwest Territories Power Corp. An- dersen isnt sure hell be able to grow out his hair for donation again but as he settles into adulthood - even looking into purchasing his first house - he looks forward to helping out cancer organizations in new ways. Cancer affects everyone thats just the way cancer is. If youre not singled out by it itll be affecting you in other ways whether its a relative grandma sister - its so unpre- dictable he said. I like to think that later in life Ill be able to to give a little more back but Im just trying to get on my own two feet after my ordeal. Young cancer survivor on the road to recovery HEALTH WELLNESS CANCER PhotosDaliCarmichael Neil Andersen during his grad in 2011. PhotoPaulBannister Fort Smith Relay For Life committee raises over 10000 at Uncorked gala Beckie Linaker left and Andrea Steed get their numbers out ready to bid for the next item. Janine left and Sue Fryer sample some wine and food pairings. Volunteers Katie Ellsworth left Lynda Thickett Brittany Scott Lana Courtese and Courtney Kaeser serve up a selection of wines scotches and mouth-watering appetizers. Jane Peterson one of the event organizers does her best Vanna White impression while taking bids for some amazing auction items. HEALTH WELLNESS CANCER FUNDRAISING