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We, behind the camera troop are controlled by something in our work. We feel happy, sad, disturbed. Mixture of emotions flow through us when we glue ourselves to our very own “THE MICROSCOPE”.
What makes us go through the emotional adventurous ride? They are nothing but the “CELLS”.
CELLS? Dear pathologist, fasten your seat belt and let’s go through the ride.
Let’s begin with normal one. NNBP Slide – It’s absolutely normal. Stable emotions. Really stable? Think for a while. Can a single NNBP slide create turbulence in us or not?
A slide of lymph node cytology, having abundant cellularity, appears like reactive. As we screen more we find eosinophils – doubt begins leading to more screening. Occasional eosinophils seen and the confusion starts as we are not finding what we are looking for. Screening more and more but in vain. Expert, experienced pathologist will have an accurate diagnosis, but what about other peers ranging from postgraduates and just fresh blossomed pathologist. Doubt leading to confusion and ultimately leading to fear.
Fear of not missing out an important diagnosis. Praying with the hope of making the diagnosis correct. The one slide where a pathologist felt brave enough of giving a diagnosis, Eosinophils With its Brick Red Shades made his bheja fry leading to cortisol release.
Confident to Confused.
Another example, on a serious note a case of Carcinoma. Reading the history, thinking about the diagnosis, screening the slides and one slide - EUREKA, proud and satisfactory feeling.
Really proud? Really satisfactory?
Next minute we think of prognosis, patient and suddenly the feeling of contentment disappears, and grief begins. Why we aren’t happy? Initially we looked for cells but lately cells started staring at us as they were aggressive.
We play a dual role here we are satisfied to tell the diagnosis to the clinicians/surgeons as we know the diagnosis at the same time when the same patient comes to receive the report, we are sad to convey the same diagnosis and at the same time counsel the patient.
So why we aren’t happy? At the end of the day, we are humans first and our patients are our “FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS”
Last but not least imagine a case where everything is so jumbled no correct history and clinical details available, we trying to solve this puzzled case, taking multiple opinions.
Concluding cells can lead us, confuse us as well misguide us. Right? So how many of you believe that our emotions are regulated by cells?
Dr. Manasa Das
Dr. Manasa Das
Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences
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