Toast to Life 23 (Dr. Tabei)

The attending physician for my brain tumors is Dr. Yusuke Tabei. He is a neurosurgeon at the International University of Health and Welfare Mita Hospital. On January 6th was my first medical examination this year. His diagnosis on my MRI, which had been taken earlier that same day, was done with good comments from him. Then, went up to the 2nd floor of the building, sitting on a couch waiting for the infusion of Avastin (molecular-targeted drug) in the dedicated room, when Dr. Tabei rushed in, who has an office on the 1st floor of the same building. Mita Hospital is huge.

He ran, physically ran, to me sitting on the couch and cut out, "I'm sorry, Mr, I am bringing another story." His word "another story" reminded me of just one thing: his previous diagnosis was made wrong and...maybe the misdiagnosis? Did my tumor got worse?

I listened to Dr. Tabei very carefully, to finally find out it wasn't the case. I was relieved (after all, on days with MRI, I get nervous every time a few days earlier). His explanation is that a MRI image diagnosis shows the spelling of the patient name, which is automatically translated through GE system from the Japanese characters of his/her name. GE is the company manufacturing the picture developing device among so many others. In my case, there is always "SATOU TUYOSI" appearing in the upper right of the image. It was different from my passport notation "SATO TSUYOKI", so I pointed it out on the same day for the second time since October last year. 

To summarize Dr. Tabei' story, there is no way to correct the patient's name once it is auto-translated, and on top, the device is used for emergency situation. "It is not linked to the patient database of the hospital, I want you to think that it is only a matter of an image, and it is separate. Hope this would not hurt you much." He was serious, although I was not that much so.

The nurses in the room who had been watching our conversation didn't hear what we talked. Rather, they called out to me when I was about to leave the room. They seemed to be worried, "the person who came in and ran to you was Dr. Tabei, right? Were you okay?" 

I explained our exchange and added. "That doctor is really kind to me, mostly to every patient. Last time I visited here, I had forgotten reminding him of the alleys order for Optune the company manufacturing it, and on my way here this room, I remembered I had forgot it, and returned o back to the first floor to tell the his receptionist, 'please tell Dr. Tabei that I will be back after  my chemo later for the order'. But while I was infusing here, he hurriedly came and said, 'I'm sorry for the order', and left to me the order form copy." Upon hearing this, all the nurses there were surprised, like "wow!"

(Let me explain a little about the array ordering system. A monthly delivery is limited to 10 sets (4 sheets per set, and 40 in total). Once every two visits, that is, once every four weeks, the doctor in charge, such as Dr. Tabei, put the order sheet to the manufacturer Novocure. This is the pattern, and normally Dr. Tabei orders even if he is not reminded. So, this is the auto-pilot system, as is called, and I do not care about it. At that time, however, he, as well as myself, forgot to remind each other!)

Dr. Tabei is a highly generous person, and listens to people. In Narita Hospital, a sister facility to IUHW, a physiotherapist told me the same, saying that Dr. Tabei is quite good, and he said he pay high respect to the doctor.

A doctor, whom I am looking forward and looking up to, is good and worth to meet. 

(Dr. Tabei has given me a consent for his identity disclosure here in my blog. Another doctor in charge of lung metastatic tumors of colorectal cancer is also a very good listener,  but the doctor's consultation is once every 6 weeks. I will ask the doctor next time. The photo above was in Gaya Island off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, taken on April 1, 2019. To be continued)