SHORTSTORIES

A HARD LESSON LEARNED As an immunologist/allergist, I have seen many patients with various health issues. But there is one patient, a woman, who stands out in my mind. She had been experiencing difficulty breathing and had been seen by five doctors before coming to me. As I listened to her lungs with my stethoscope, I heard something that made my blood run cold. On the left side, everything sounded normal. But on the right side, in the middle and lower lobes, there was nothing. Absolutely nothing. No sound whatsoever. I knew something was terribly wrong. I sent her immediately to the emergency room for a chest x-ray.

The results were devastating. A massive tumor was blocking the air from reaching the lower lobe of her right lung. We could not tell how long it had been there, but it had grown to an enormous size. Despite five doctors seeing her before, none of them had listened to her lungs. Her condition amounted to a death sentence, and died within a couple of months.

This experience left me with a deep appreciation for the importance of listening to the lungs and the need to pay attention to the small details. I encourage my patients to sit still and do exactly what I say during their visits. It’s a small thing, but it can make a big difference.