CHAPTER 141: 141 ENLARGED SPLEEN (ADDED FOR EMPTINESS, LONELINESS, AND COLD 6/6)

This patient was really talkative, essentially recounting the entire story of his dog Tiggie’s growth from a puppy to an adult. Liu Banxia and Wang Huan were patient listeners, sitting quietly and listening attentively.

Even though it was past their shift, Wang Huan also stayed, keeping them company.

The two patients they encountered today were both resistant to examinations. Their strategy, therefore, was to cater to the patients’ moods as much as possible. If they could coax the patients into a good mood and get them to accept the examinations, everyone would be happy.

This was only possible because the emergency department wasn’t overly crowded at the moment. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have had the time to appease them in this manner.

It was somewhat disheartening, really. For doctors in any department, starting times were usually fixed, but end times were not. Tasks at hand had to be dealt with efficiently and properly; otherwise, who could you pass them on to?

"Dr. Liu, the streptococcus test is negative."

Just as they were chatting happily, Liang Xiaolin rushed in from outside.

Hearing Liang Xiaolin’s words, the patient was overjoyed, but Liu Banxia and Wang Huan both furrowed their brows simultaneously.

"Doctor, I just have an ordinary cold, right? How can you two be like this? You can’t be unhappy just because your guess was wrong," the patient said, glancing at them. He looked a bit unhappy himself.

He’d told them these pointless tests shouldn’t be done! So what if the examination was done? It turned out there were no issues at all; it was just a waste of good money, wasn’t it? With this money, he could have bought better food for Tiggie!

Now, Wang Huan and Liu Banxia were truly perplexed. The most likely streptococcal infection had come back negative. Could it really be that because they were doctors, they were overthinking things, and this was just an ordinary cold?

"Do you feel uncomfortable in your stomach?" Liu Banxia asked, looking at the patient’s hand pressing on his left abdomen.

"Maybe I’ve talked too much? Or perhaps I’m hungry. But instead of hunger, I actually feel a bit bloated. Doctor, please don’t order any more tests. You can’t make me get a gastroscopy or colonoscopy just because of one wound, can you? I’ll just go home and buy some cold medicine," the patient said hurriedly.

"Can I give you one last physical examination?" Liu Banxia asked with slight hesitation.

The patient looked at him and nodded. If he hadn’t sensed that Dr. Liu genuinely cared, he wouldn’t have stayed this long. He had a premonition that after this physical exam, they’d probably order more tests. No more tests, no matter what! What a waste of money.

After a brief palpation, Liu Banxia frowned. "Lie on your side... just like that. What do you feel when I press here?"

"It’s a little itchy and a bit painful. What are you pressing? Is it my stomach?" the patient asked curiously.

"The stomach isn’t located here. Brother Wang, your touch is more accurate. Help me palpate. See if you can feel the spleen," Liu Banxia said, turning to Wang Huan.

Wang Huan paused. He had been pondering the possible cause, and now his expression turned serious. He approached and carefully palpated the patient’s left flank.

"I can feel the edge of the spleen," Wang Huan said.

Liu Banxia sighed inwardly, wondering how to break the news to this man. Wang Huan’s words confirmed that the patient’s spleen was enlarged.

A normal human spleen cannot be palpated. Even when enlarged, at most, only an edge can be felt. The discovery of this symptom led Liu Banxia and Wang Huan toward a new potential diagnosis, though it was not a welcome one.

"Doctor, judging by your expressions, it doesn’t look like good news," the patient said, sitting up.

"Can you trust me one last time?" Liu Banxia looked at him and asked seriously.

After a little hesitation, the patient nodded.

"You also need to be seen by the Oncology Department," Liu Banxia said.

Liang Xiaolin started. No wonder Liu Banxia and Wang Huan had looked so grave just now.

"A tumor? I have a tumor? Growing right where you just palpated?" the patient asked, bewildered and clearly frightened.

Liu Banxia hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "We suspect there might be a problem with your lymphatic system. That’s also why the first wound on your hand still hasn’t completely healed."

"However, this is just a suspicion. Everything still depends on the final examination results. Please try not to feel too much psychological stress. Even if there is an issue, we’ve detected it relatively early."

The patient tried to force a smile, but it wouldn’t quite form.

Although he didn’t fully understand these medical matters, he knew that anything that made two doctors treat it with such gravity was definitely not good news.

"Doctor, is your judgment accurate this time? How confident are you?" the patient asked.

"I hope our judgment is mistaken," Liu Banxia said.

The patient fell silent again. This time, although Liu Banxia didn’t press him to do more tests, he knew something was seriously wrong.

"I’ll contact the Oncology Department and have them take a thorough look," Wang Huan said.

Seeing the patient’s expression, Liu Banxia had initially intended to accompany him. But after a moment’s thought, he decided against it. Some information the patient needed to process alone.

"How did you arrive at that diagnosis? Is it really lymphoma?" Liang Xiaolin asked after the patient had left for the Oncology Department.

"Swollen lymph nodes, a high white blood cell count, an enlarged spleen, and wounds that don’t heal easily—when you put all these together, a certain picture emerges. I hope we’re wrong; lymphoma is rarely benign," Liu Banxia said.

"Oh! So, are you saying his dog bit him because it smelled the tumor? Aren’t there reports from overseas about cats or dogs being able to detect the scent of tumors on people?" Liang Xiaolin mused.

Liu Banxia was taken aback and scratched his scalp. You know, that guess from Liang Xiaolin was actually quite plausible. According to the patient’s account, his dog Tiggie had always been very docile but had suddenly bitten him—and more than once.

He glanced at the patient’s information on the computer screen again. The patient’s name was Lu Gang.

Usually, he didn’t make a point of remembering patients’ names. It wasn’t that it was a hassle; he mainly just didn’t want to become too emotionally involved with them.

However, since this patient had already been transferred, it didn’t matter anymore. If he was indeed diagnosed, the condition would likely only be manageable with chemotherapy.

"Banxia, you’re really meticulous. If it weren’t for your persistence, it’s hard to say what would have happened," Wang Huan said with admiration.

"Sigh, I wouldn’t say I was being meticulous. It’s mainly because I’d seen this patient before. I just didn’t expect that he might have dodged rabies, only to potentially not escape lymphoma. I wasn’t careful enough during his physical exam; I should have done a complete check-up from the start," Liu Banxia sighed.

"This is draining; it’s really affected my mood. I’m definitely treating myself to an extra dish tonight. Brother Wang, how do you cope with situations like this?"

Wang Huan shook his head with a wry smile. "How else can you cope? The first cancer patient I diagnosed had lung cancer; I still remember them to this day. It’s like that patient, Wang Mingxing—do you think you’ll ever forget him?"

Liu Banxia pinched the bridge of his nose. Indeed, he couldn’t forget. There was also the pregnant woman who died on the resuscitation table, and Tongtong, the baby who was delivered then. He wanted to forget, but he couldn’t.

Although these patients were merely passersby in his life, they all left deep imprints.