TGIF…finally!!

TGIF…

What a week!!

Title: Pathology: Histology: Cervical Cancer Description: Histological section showing cervical cancer specifically squamous cell carcinoma in the cervix. Tissue is stained with pap stain and magnified x200. Subjects (names): Topics/Categories: Pathology -- Histology Type: Color Slide Source: National Cancer Institute Author: Unknown photographer AV Number: AV-9303-4404 Date Created: March 1993 Date Entered: 1/1/2001 Access: Public (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’m not sure how your week went, but TGIF…what a week!  I had two cases of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (on the same day!) in young women (less than 35) that sadly, were the result of an individual failure in having regular screening exams. So, it would appear that the statistic still holds…that the majority of invasive cervical cancers occur in women who have not had a pap smear! In the population of patients that I see in our laboratory, this is a fairly unusual event in one week, let alone on the same day. I do not envy my OB/GYN colleagues in their position of having to tell the patient, and I greatly appreciate the time they take out of their busy days to discuss the findings with me as part of the team taking care of their patient.

Thank goodness for the glass…

No, not the “wine” glass…the glass slide. I have to confess, that there is a calming effect while “looking at glass”…a comfortable feeling that transcends what else may be going on in your world. How else could someone spend hours out of the day looking through a microscope

Microscopio con un portaobjetos teñido (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

unless there was some type of positive biofeedback from this? I think for sure, that those who are truly called to the field, understand what I am talking about…at least I hope so…and if not…well then, I guess that means

I need to bring out the wine bottle instead!

21 years!

I recently celebrated my 21st year at my job in Dallas…yup, the same place for 21 years!!! And I have to tell you, no matter how challenging times are, I can’t imagine being anywhere else, or doing anything else…I am in my element, and love what I do and love the folks I work with.  What I DON’T like is politics…professional OR national…LOL…so that’s all I will say about that (wink).  I look at my mentors, on a personal level (my father and mother), and on a professional level (Dr. Robert Scully), and have been surrounded by those who have a strong work ethic, and have worked well beyond into their 70′s and 80′s! So, it would appear, that I am just halfway there…

Raising the wine glass…here’s to the hope for another 21 years…and counting!! TGIF…Cheers!!