DOCTORS: THE GOOD THE BAD OR THE UGLY?

Introduction and objective: Nowadays fear of cancer is one of the most frequent patients’ concerns and taking this into account the authors pretend to show how important is the vocabulary chosen by doctors to transmit clinical information. Methods (Case description): A 63 year-old male, hypertensive, with hepatitis B, sleep apnea, anxiety disorder comes to consultation with choking complaints with solids referring that the bolus stucks on the esophagus without obstructing the trachea. The patient presents with a high level of anxiety, fear to die in those episodes and towards the possibility of a local cancer. Therefore has been requested an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) and a gastroenterology appointment. The UGIE revealed proximal ulcerative esophagitis and other small lesions. The gastroenterologyst that made the exam described to the patient a scary scenario that led him to return to his Family Doctor, showing increased anxiety and demanding urgent help. He brought the results of the biopsies revealing no neoplasic lesions. To reassure the patient a hospital’s gastroenterologist was contacted suggesting us to demystify the problem and start treatment with pantoprazole and sucralfate. Results and Conclusion: In this case the Family Doctor was instrumental in the investigation of the trigger of this concern, as well as to clarify all patient’s doubts. Moreover, it demonstrates a good link between primary and differentiated care, allowing through this cooperation a faster therapeutic initiation and the anticipation of consultation, thus diminishing the patient anxiety and fears.