18/05/2026
Often in Medicine, the relationship between a patient and a doctor becomes much more. The doctor often becomes a friend, sometimes a confidant, and occasionally becomes one of the family. We become like a brother or sister, father or mother, or the child of an elderly patient who has only their best interests at heart. I daresay that this phenomenon is seen more in Oncology, than most other specialities, where our mortality is laid bare, we question our very life that we have lived to that moment.
And because of this, as an oncologist, nothing gives me greater joy than hearing of a patient who has excelled, achieved things that are commendable for any individual but borders on supernatural for a cancer patient taking chemotherapy or any form of cancer treatment.
Hence, I was ecstatic yesterday when the mother of a patient of mine messaged me yesterday saying that my patient became the school topper in her chosen stream. This young girl was diagnosed with a rare form of Lymphoma, started on a combination of chemotherapy and one of the latest Antibody-Drug Conjugates for this illness. She achieved a complete response and is now free of the disease. She continued to study hard even while on chemotherapy and has emerged as the school topper of her school in her stream with an aggregate of 94% marks!!! Her family and I used to discuss so many things during her treatment, like martial arts (she’s also a black belt in karate like her father!) health insurances, travel, higher education and so much more. So this little sister of mine is now something I could never be. The school topper.
Words cannot describe how proud I am of her and her parents. May you always live long and prosper!
