Yay, weekend's here! :) It was an enjoyable saturday at hosp today, thanks to slower rounds (fewer people forming the party), fast changes (most of the post-take patients taken care of) and a relaxed longer-than-usual post-round breakfast. Got to know my MO somewhat better, even recommended the 42 km cycling trip to him for his sunday pursuit :p

Realised rather suddenly today that many of my patients are terminally ill, advanced cancer patients. Thing is, I wonder if, because u deal with it so much day in & day out, one forgets about it; the implications etc & only focuses on the present problem at hand. Not that this is bad, for u dont want to greet a patient thinking only of his cancer (I am sure that will hv its subtle effect on the greeting). But many a time, being aware of this will help u understand a patient's decisions better & respect them. Help restrain your urge for aggressive treatment perhaps. By the way, it isnt as if all these patients sit in bed with a label on their head brooding or looking morose; rather they are all seemingly normal even cheerful. And I admire them for this. Saw a stack of photo albums by the bedside of such a grandma today. It strangely pained me to see her, surrounded by her daughters and her photos, lying in the hospital bed. Various tests, medications, as docs strive to get her better. But all she wanted was to go home. Spend her last days in a comforting environment.