The unwanted diagnosis

He was a fit intelligent 74 year old accountant who walked five miles every day, lived for his family and dogs, and had worked hard for his comfortable life. He was afraid of doctors and never saw one until absolutely necessary—as demonstrated by his two strangulated inguinal hernias.

As I drove to his house, I had the feeling that my life was about to change. It was a bitter February day with a biting north wind blowing flurries of snow. I entered the house and breathed a sigh of relief when everything seemed normal. Then his words: …