Experienced hands

A decade ago I saw Dr M for my annual physical. He had with him a Georgetown medical student, who was learning how to give physicals. Tom asked if the student could stay and learn, and I said great.

As Tom was poking and prodding, he said, you have something on your throat, it may be something serious, it may something trivial, but in any case it needs to be checked out by a specialist. We tended quickly to the referral, and I said to the student, "Why don't feel my neck, so you know what to look for in others?"

So he put his hands on my neck, and said he felt nothing.

It turned out I had easily treatable thyroid cancer. I am sure glad it was Dr. M's experienced hands on my neck that day.