My First Terrible Diagnosis

The document recounts the personal experience of a medical student who initially reveled in the academic aspects of medicine, enjoying the certainty and problem-solving involved in diagnosing conditions. However, during a fourth-year rotation in an urgent care clinic, the student faced a sobering moment when a woman with a clear sign of breast cancer came in. The student was unable to provide comfort or a straightforward diagnosis, leaving the patient with uncertainty. This encounter led to feelings of shame and guilt for focusing on the intellectual challenge rather than the patient's experience. The student learned from this experience and changed their approach to patient care, now offering an honest differential diagnosis, discussing best and worst-case scenarios, and ensuring patients they would find answers together. This shift in perspective allowed the student to find a balance between the wonder of medicine and the empathy required in patient care, using their expertise to provide comfort to patients when delivering difficult news.