“Hi… May I have an appointment with the doctor?” said a tense Sisira looking into the Gynecology OPD.
“Yes please… Have your seat. Drink some water if you want. Tell me calmly what makes you come here.” Said Doctor Yamuna.
“Doctor, I don’t know how to explain this. But my mother says I have been possessed with some demons.” Said Sisira in a panicked tone.
“Demons? In this twenty first century who believes in them? What makes them say such things?” asked Doctor Yamuna.
“I have been suffering from some symptoms…I feel ashamed to explain them. I am afraid to explain them…,” cried Sisira.
“Hey, without proper explanation, I cannot conclude. Please stop panicking and explain me the symptoms that you are suffering from,” said the Doctor, comforting the patient.
“I am having white color discharge from my left breast. There is pain associated with it. I also feel a lump there.” Said Sisira, with tears flowing down her face. “Everything was fine before my marriage. But one month after marriage, when I noticed this, my husband started to tell me that demons had possessed me, and my parents married me off to get rid of me. What should I do, Doctor? I am afraid.”
“Hey, don’t be afraid… Let me examine you first. Said a confident doctor.
After making the patient comfortable, Yamuna started to examine Sisira.
“Hmm… I can see a pea-sized lump on your left breast. When I touch on it, I can feel irregular edges. Do you feel any sensation when I move my hands through it?” asked the Doctor.
“Yes Doctor, there is tenderness. On a score of 10, I would give it a 3.” Said Sisira. “Did you notice Doctor? Doesn’t my left breast shape look a little awkward?”
“Yes Sisira, more than that, I can also see a swelling on that breast. Skin is also slightly thicker on that specific area. We will move on to inspect the nipple. There is a mild inversion of the nipple along with a white color discharge on squeezing it. We will do one thing. We can take an Ultra Sonography now, so that our doubts can be ruled out.”
“Does that mean I have cancer? Does that mean I am going to die?” asked a frightened Sisira.
“No, dear… It is just a suspicion. I know hearing about breast cancer can be really scary, but I want to break it down for you in a way that makes sense—no need to panic, okay?
So, breast cancer has different stages, and they basically describe how much the cancer has grown or spread. The stages go from 0 to 4.
Stage 0
This is the earliest stage. It means the cancer cells are still in the place they started and haven’t spread. It’s also called carcinoma in situ, and it’s very treatable.
Stage 1
The cancer is small and may have started to spread a little bit, but it’s still very contained and highly treatable.
Stage 2
This means the cancer is a bit larger or may have spread to a few nearby lymph nodes, but it’s still considered early-stage, and treatment options are really effective.
Stage 3
This stage means the cancer has spread more in the breast and lymph nodes, but it’s still treatable with a combination of therapies.
Stage 4
This is when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, like the bones or lungs. It’s more advanced, but treatments can help manage it and improve quality of life.
The important thing to remember is that breast cancer is very treatable, especially when caught early. Regular check-ups and self-exams are super important. And if anything ever feels off, doctors have so many ways to help. So don’t panic—knowledge is power, and early detection makes a huge difference!” completed Doctor Yamuna, Guiding Sisira to the USG room.
Time passed by. Each and every second, while they were processing the results of USG, felt like ages to Sisira. Finally, the results came.
“What does it say doctor?” asked Sisira eagerly.
“It says you have Intraductal papilloma breast.” Said Doctor Yamuna with a smile on her face. Hey, I know hearing ‘intraductal papilloma’ might sound worrying, but I want you to know—it’s not cancer. It’s a totally benign (noncancerous) growth in the breast ducts, and it’s pretty common. Doctors usually monitor or remove it if needed, but it’s nothing to panic about. You’re going to be just fine! The happy thing is that now you know you are not possessed by any demons. It’s just a growth in the breast.”
“Aw, I’m so glad you feel better now! It’s totally understandable to worry, but I’m really happy you know it’s just a medical condition and nothing else. A lot of people might not know about things like this, so yeah, sharing your experience and educating others could really help. You never know who might need that reassurance too!” said a calm Sisira.
“Don’t forget the follow up visits.” Warned Doctor Yamuna before leaving the patient
