I work as a breast care nurse at Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan and I also teach students of our nursing education programmes. Some nurses opt out of seeing patients when they start teaching but I chose to continue with patient care because this is my passion. It is a soul-touching feeling to be able to help patients directly after listening to their concerns. Sometimes, lending patients an empathetic ear can mean the difference between life and death.

I remember a breast cancer patient who was hesitant to undergo advised treatment; chemotherapy meant loss of hair and surgery involved mastectomy in her case. She was also concerned about the society’s reaction to her altered physical appearance. I did not want to give up on her. I showed her ways in which support was available for her in the form of breast prosthesis as well as a wig, and I told her to take into confidence a trusted family member during this journey. After that discussion, she changed her mind and completed recommended treatment.

She survived.

Experiences like these during patient care process are priceless.