I had a short conversation with a colleague the other day that reminded me why I love Arab culture.

I had a five-minute phone conversation with a doctor who works for our community health service. He's an oncological gynecologist, a doctor who specializes in treating ovarian and uterine cancers. Well, one of my patients came to me in tears because her own gynecologist diagnosed her with a low-grade squamous epithelial abnormality caused by the human papilloma virus. Fancy medical talk for saying she has a small chance of contracting vaginal cancer.

She had a hysterectomy years ago due to non-cancerous reasons. And now, her gynecologist (who doesn't sound as if he has a very good bed-side manner) just told her bluntly that she was going to get cancer of the vaginal wall. Well, I was a little taken aback by all this. First of all, this patient of mine is very emotionally fragile to begin with; she has been evaluated several times at my clinic for suicidal feelings; plus, physically, she's already a train wreck. I was very upset at her gynecologist for not being a little more sensitive to her emotional state.

My assistant recommended that I call our oncological gynecologist, who just happens to be her step-father, and see what he could do. He's this Arab-American guy in his late seventies who is still healthy and strong, and has no interest in retiring from his practice. Keep in mind, I had never spoken with or even met this doctor before.

His end of the conversation? Basically this, nearly word-for-word: "Well, please send this poor woman to me. I will make sure she is well cared-for. I will obtain an endometrial sample for testing, and this I will do for the wonderful Doctor Bob!"

It was this courtly, gentlemanly manner that he had, coupled with an Arabic lilt to his English, and being able to obtain proper care for my frightened patient, that just made me feel great inside. This job has its rewards. God is great.

I had a wonderful experience with an Arab doctor. I was as distressed as your patient (about something different) and he was very kind and sympathetic. I will never forget him.

:)

It's insane on the roads here...

On someone who had a hysterectomy? You could biopsy the vaginal cuff, but no uterus = no endometrium, unless they left something behind they shouldn't have.

Sorry... :blush::hide:

who seem to have very little sympathy for women - I have to wonder why they ever went into the specialty in the first place. When I was a nurse, I was fortunate to only run into 2 that I remember, but man, they were bastards. Oftentimes the nurses were left to clean up the emotional mess left behind by those guys. On the other hand, some docs and midwives - like the gentleman you mention - were wonderful empathetic people who really cared about and loved their work.

LGSIL doesn't automatically lead to cancer, but you know this. I wonder how it was diagnosed, most hysterectomies take the cervix, and most LGSIL diagnoses come from PAPs. And there are certainly treatments - colposcopy to begin with. Regular screening, of course, oh, and a new doctor for that poor woman. Sheesh, what a way to treat a patient.