[Doctor speaks to colleague] Time and time again, this damn undue embarrassment. This incomprehensible aversion to a thorough examination. They’d rather go to a quack doctor. The disease spreads, and you’ve seen what happens then. Who’s the next patient?
[Colleague] Mrs. Hoffmann: Suspicious findings.
[Doctor] So, Mrs. Hoffmann, let’s take a look now. Please take this off so I can examine you. Now raise your arms, please. When did you notice this for the first time?
[Mrs. Hoffmann] About three weeks ago, Professor. When I was drying off after my bath, I noticed something.
[Doctor] Was it painful?
[Mrs. Hoffmann] No, it didn’t really hurt.
[Doctor] Yes, that’s the really insidious thing about such tumors, that you don’t feel any pain at all at first. It’s good that you’ve come here this soon. Well, we can fix this. First we’ll do a biopsy. [To his colleague] Please [make arrangements], colleague.
[Doctor] First we’ll remove a small amount of tissue from the tumor. You won’t feel anything at all. Then this little piece of tissue goes to the lab and is dealt with there. It is embedded in paraffin so that the extremely thin slices needed for microscopic examination can be made. From the normal or abnormal nature of this tissue, the experienced physician can tell whether he is dealing with cancer or merely a benign change. In addition, we will test your blood for various markers. We will also do an X-ray to see whether your lungs are all right. And then there are all sorts of other things. For certain patients, we examine the excretions of organs, such as gastric juices or urine. If something suspicious has been found, there are two possibilities. Either an operation or radiation, in some cases both. There is radiation with radium and with X-rays, and that will be the given treatment in your case.
[Mrs. Hoffmann] Yes, but, Professor, how am I supposed to pay for all this?
[Doctor] Dear Mrs. Hoffmann, when a suspicious tumor has been detected, these days no one needs to go without medical help anymore. So you really don’t need to worry about it.