Cynically Optimistic

A few weeks ago, as part of the translational research focus of our training, I spent the afternoon in one of the clinics observing and asking the doctor questions. Dressing the part was kind of fun, strutting about in a necktie and lab coat all afternoon. Each of us was sent to a different clinic. The other guys went to the breast cancer center, the GI center, or the myeloma center in the main hospital. They sent me to observe a prostate specialist.

The amount one can get away with while wearing a lab coat is astounding. I walked into the clinic and the desk staff sent me right back to the doctor's lounge without a second thought. Not a single patient batted an eyelash when the RealDoc™ asked if it was okay for a student (me) to observe. The variety of patients and wives we saw that day was astounding. One guy drove in from Pennsylvania just to get his 3-month hormone injection but was otherwise doing fine. One couple from long island could easily have been my parents. The wife was wearing a sweater with little lighthouse buttons for crying out loud! She took copious notes while her husband was fairly glib about the whole process. "Tell him to eat better!" "Tell him that exercise is a good idea!" She chirped during the conversation. We saw one guy in his 80's who was just in for his injection, but was completely at peace with the fact that he was going to die soon from three types of cancer! THREE! His wife had cancer too.

You'd think this was all depressing and awful, but it wasn't really. All of the patients are already diagnosed and have had several tests performed before we saw them, so there was no bad news to deliver, and no emotional outbursts. The scariest thing I saw was a guy and his wife in their 50 (both looked in great shape) who had recently been diagnosed, had his prostate removed, and now seeking second opinions because his tests results were coming back with poor results. He was in a grey area of treatment, and had some tough decisions to make.

Will this make me a better researcher? I hope so. Was the experience valuable? Definitely. At the bare minimum, now I know what doctors are doing while I'm sitting in an exam room waiting nervously. They're calling other doctors, reviewing tests, consulting colleagues, and making sure you're getting the best treatment possible. That said, the guy I observed works in the clinic one day per week, the rest of the time he does medical reporting research. Talk about a cushy doctor job, except for all the digital rectal exams.

[Note: I left the room while the delicate part of the exams were performed]