Resection by Martha Eichler

First comes the symptom, or a routine test. Then, a discovery. There is a problem. Something is amiss. A foreign “mass.” Not-self. Mutated cells run amok. Biopsies. A probable diagnosis. The probable diagnosis predicts the probable prognosis.

In between all of this lies the patient, worrying, wondering, wishing, and hoping; suppressing the rising fear and panic.

Doing the dishes, changing the sheets, getting a haircut, making dinner. The chicken was good.

Catscan. Meeting the surgeon. To discuss what will happen with the scalpel.

Between the surgeon and the patient lies the tumor. Between the scalpel and the disease lies hope.