“Nice to see you, Joe, how are you feeling?”
“I’m fine, doc. We had a great holiday.”
“That’s great. You look fine. I am glad you had a good time.”
“How was your holiday, doc?”
“Good, good. The kids were over, it was a lot of fun. My wife cooked. She doesn’t usually cook, so that was an event itself. It was fun having the kids over.”
“That’s good doc, that’s good.”
“I see you lost a little weight. That’s not easy, especially this time of year.”
“Thanks, I’ve been trying to get some exercise.”
“Yup, exercise is good. Bring down your cholesterol. Good for your heart. It keeps your blood pressure under control. Me, I bought a rowing machine. Strengthens the muscles, joints and bones.”
“That’s great.”
“So, Joe, I was thinking. Well, I was going over your blood tests. They look pretty good. Your liver and kidneys and nutrition are great.”
“That’s good news.”
“Well, I have just one concern. Just a question really. Nothing for sure. Nothing urgent.”
“What’s that?”
“Your blood count has changed. Not a lot. Just a little. It might be nothing at all. Perhaps it is a lab error. We need to do a repeat blood test. Maybe a couple of other labs. Just check things out.”
“Sure, doc, whatever you want. More blood tests, today?”
“Yup, let’s draw some blood today. Why don’t you come back on Friday and we’ll see if there is anything else we need to do.”
“OK, thanks for seeing me. You’re a great doctor and I really appreciate your help.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Nice to see you, Joe, how are you feeling?”
I wonder if he saw the blood test results?
“I’m fine, doc. We had a great holiday.”
“How am I feeling?” Shit, something is wrong. He usually asks first about my family. Could it be my lab tests?
“That’s great. You look fine. I am glad you had a good time.”
He has no idea. It would have been easier if he had a clue. Why don’t patients check their labs online?
“How was your holiday, doc?”
He knows something… delaying; staring at that damn screen.
“Good, good. The kids were over, it was a lot of fun. My wife cooked. She doesn’t usually cook, so that was an event itself. It was fun having the kids over.”
I will have to tell him something; start slow, a warning shot.”
“That’s good doc, that’s good.”
It must be bad.
“I see you lost a little weight. That’s not easy, especially this time of year.”
That’s it. Start slow. Hint.
“Thanks, I’ve been trying to get some exercise.”
My weight? 2 damn pounds? This is not good at all.
“Yup, exercise is good. Bring down your cholesterol. Good for your heart. It keeps your blood pressure under control. Me, I bought a rowing machine. Strengthens the muscles, joints and bones.”
If I keep delaying much longer, he is going to get suspicious.
“That’s great.”
Oh, fuck, it must be really bad. He can’t even look at me.
So, Joe, I was thinking. Well, I was going over your blood tests. They look pretty good. Your liver and kidneys and nutrition are great.”
Give him a chance to focus. Don’t want to surprise him.
“That’s good news.”
Was that a warning shot?
“Well, I have just one concern. Just a question really. Nothing for sure. Nothing urgent.”
That’s it; tell him we need more tests. Confirm. Check things out. No reason to hit him with the whole thing at once.
“What’s that?”
A concern? A question? What does that mean? How sick is a concern?
“Your blood count has changed. Not a lot. Just a little. It might be nothing at all. Perhaps it is a lab error. We need to do a repeat blood test. Maybe a couple of other labs. Just check things out.”
That’s it, be gentle. Vague. Baby steps.
“Sure, doc, whatever you want. More blood tests, today?”
He’s trying to protect me. I must be in big trouble. I wonder if there is any hope? Did he already give up?
“Yup, let’s draw some blood today. Why don’t you come back on Friday and we’ll see if there is anything else we need to do.”
That’s your clue. Stand up. Walk to the door. Excellent. Quicker than I thought. No hard questions. Gave him a chance to cope. Maybe he’ll bring his wife with him for the next visit. That would be easier.
“OK, thanks for seeing me. You’re a great doctor and I really appreciate your help.”
Come back in 3 days? Could it be cancer? It must be cancer. It must be cancer. Cancer. Stage 4 cancer. I wonder if I’m going to die?
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