Nomenclature
It tumbles down
“Erm, sorry what…”
Before I’ve finished
Doctors disperse
Onto the next
Lost amongst words
I’m left alone
Ears resonate
“Abnormal growth”
Is it cancer?
Surely they’d say
Or perhaps not
A biopsy
Hello, we’ll see
What does it mean?
In despair I search
Looking all around
Drips, nurses, drugs
Chaotic blur
I listen out
Still no answers
Is this the way
For a patient
Steps echoing
Heels strike louder
Senses retune
Chaos dismissed
Prussian blue dress
Like a summer nigh,
Her beaming face
Fragrant aura
Holding my hand
Wrapped in comfort
No more flutter
I feel relaxed
Softly spoken
Explanation
Reassurance
Confusion gone
So you will see
All I need
Is a little
Communication
About the Author
Ankeet Jethwa is a surgical trainee in East Midlands, England. Following his training at Balliol College, University of Oxford, he completed the Academic Foundation rotation in Edinburgh. He has a keen interest in game-changing innovation in healthcare and is conducting research into non-invasive scarless surgery.
Footnotes
Conflict of interest None declared.
Declaration This is the author’s original unpublished work, and has not been submitted for publication elsewhere.
CITATION: Jethwa A. Communication Is Key. Mens Sana Monogr 2013;11:287-88