“Why are we waiting?” retorted Sulekha in anguish. Her unkempt
hair, forehead creases, frowning eyes marked the bitterness of last few
weeks.
It all began when she noticed a small bump in her right breast. She
had been to Dr Joshi’s surgery clinic on several occasions since then.
The subsequent mammogram had shown a star shaped opacity, which
the doctor had termed alarming. Dr Joshi, dexterous he was, had
needled the bump, collected sparse juicy fluid from it and sent to
pathology laboratory.
The next day, Dr Joshi had called for a meet and explained
“Sulekhaji, the cytology report reveals absence of cancer cells. As I
had briefed earlier, it’s only few cells which are dislodged onto a
glass slides and examined. Cytology remains merely a screening test.
I suggest we have to go for a core biopsy”.
Words crashed on her sullen face, as she had expected to be done with
the ordeal that day. The next few hours, Dr Joshi had explained the
procedure of core tissue biopsy. He went on “Cancer is not the only
thing in mind. There might be some early budding stages of cancer,
which we call precancerous. A pathologist is adept at identifying them
under a microscope in a tissue. Sulekhaji, this core biopsy of tissue
followed by pathological evaluation is necessary.”
When the doctor had shown the thin threads of tissue dipped in
pungent fluid, she had quipped “Are they going to cast magic spell on
it to make it talk?” It had been longest week of her life since the core
biopsy procedure.
This evening, a full day earlier than the scheduled meeting, she had
busted into Dr Joshi’s clinic and cried “I am tired mulling over it
Doctor. Please answer; do I have cancer or no?”
Dr Joshi calmed her and paged the pathologist for immediate
response.
“Rest assured mam, don’t worry yourself in haste. Dr Ramakant, our
chief pathologist has already obtained all details from me. He will
soon issue the report” he added.
Just then, the doors flinged and entered a giant of a man “Dr Joshi,
your repeated notifications on pager worried me. I choose to bring the
report myself instead of punching it into the system”.
The newcomer’s gaze now turned to Sulekha, “This is best surprise
for me today. How are you Sulekhaji. What are you doing here?” with
a sheepish smile.
She reciprocated joyously “Isn’t it Dr Swamy of our bike club. I knew
you to be doctor, I apologise, I didn’t recognise you were a...”
Dr Ramakant Swamy quipped “PATHOLOGIST” and joined the big
laugh.
Dr Joshi intervened “That takes away introducing you to each other.”
Sulekha now relaxed posed “So, what does the cyclist do here?”
Dr Swamy replied “I have the most interesting job here. Now after
our friend Dr Joshi removes tissue at surgery, I process them and take
very thin sections of few microns thickness. I stain them with usual
Hematoxylin and Eosin. When under my microscope, I examine
them”.
Sulekha enquired further “Do you look for only cancer in the
tissues?”
Dr Swamy replied “Not always. I examine the tissues to answer many
other questions from doctor here such as, was it infection, what type
of infection it is, was the surgery success and appropriate etc. I can
confirm the diagnosis made before surgery. I sometimes have to use
special stains to highlight the abnormal. You can also call me
“guardian of tissues”, as I get to preserve and tag the tissues for
further genetic and molecular studies”.
Still eyes on Sulekha, he handed over the report to Dr Joshi “I hadn’t
realised this report belonged to you.”
Dr Joshi stared down at the report and smiled “Dr Ramakant, you are
gracious as always.”
“Sulekhaji, didn’t I forewarn you about unnecessarily worrying
yourself. The report confirms complete absence of cancer or any pre-
cancerous tissue”.
Greatly relieved and happy Sulekha thanked both the doctors.
Dr Swamy added on “Oh yes, it’s just physiological cyclical
changes.”
With brightened eyes she exclaimed at Dr Swamy “Cyclical! That
reminds me isn’t it this evening the mile drive challenge in our club?”
Dr Swamy and Sulekha now turned to Dr Joshi with an appeal.
Dr Joshi remarked “Don’t look at me. If Sulekhaji is up to the task, I
don’t mind. My consultation can wait. Miles on the smiles.”
Sulekha now gleefully at Dr Swamy “It’s about time now. Why are
we waiting?”
Launch your Graphy