Few people will not be influenced by the magic regimens our ancient doctors concocted to get rid of some seemingly incurable diseases; and few will not grumble about the unpleasant experience in going to today’s modern hospitals. Some even put forward the question that why our doctors can’t bring cancer under control while astronauts can travel on the moon? With the fanning of charlatans and misleading media coverage, mistrust in the contemporary technology of medicine still persists, some leading to tragic ends.

A few years ago a nice young woman, about 29 years old, came to the endoscopic center. She was very nervous and bashful. There was a telltale fright in her face, which was uncommon in these days, as endoscopy was simple and safe. The professor was very sympathetic and told her that it would take only a few minutes. She was very cooperative and held on till the end of the procedure. During the procedure we were all surprised by what we found. A grotesque tumor had grown so big as to nearly completely obliterate the pylorus( the lower opening of the stomach). Judging from this finding alone, her prognosis was poor with a very limited life expectancy. But why did she come to the hospital so late?

After the procedure, I inquired her about her illness. She said that she had a one-year-old baby who needed her constant care and nursing, so when she felt a mild abdominal discomfort about half a year ago, she didn’t take it seriously, and when her mother advised her to take some herbal medicine, she readily consented to. It had some effect at first, but her discomfort didn’t go away. Later on as she began to feel intermittent abdominal pain, she had gone to see several doctors, many of whom recommended her to undergo endoscopy. Born a diffident girl, she was very dependent on her mother, so this time she again asked her opinion. Being a very superstitious woman, who was very distrustful of the new technology, her mother dissuaded her from receiving any interventional examinations for fear of the disruption of her innate integral system(破气)。She followed her mother’s advice and hoped to wait the disease out. It turned out not to be as she desired. Her symptoms worsened daily: she vomited intermittently and she was losing weight significantly. Only after a friend found her rather emaciated and exhorted her to see a doctor, did her mother agree to accompany her to undergo this common procedure. The pain must be inestimable and unbearable for her mother and herself after they were informed of the nature of her illness, but it was irremediable. Even as an outsider I couldn’t help feeling sorry for the poor woman and her baby.

The poor mother may be forgivable on account of her illiteracy, but even highly educated intellectual can be as ignorant.

Two years ago my sister asked on the phone about the illness of her close friend, who often had abdominal cramps for no reason at all. Her friend, a professor and dean of some college, was only 40 years old and led a relatively comfortable life. I would let pass those details in examinations and come direct to her diagnosis, which was again gastric cancer. I asked her why it took her so long to have her stomach examined; her answer was very surprising. She said she had never heard of this examination before and the doctors whom she consulted didn’t mention it at all. Though she had confidence in the expertise of doctors, she passed away within a year.

Here I am not weaving macabre stories as if the world is coming to an end. To be frank, I myself am not willing to look back on those harrowing experiences. The troubles and works at hand are already too many to put up with. My purpose here aims at raising awareness to my friends that going to the doctor as early as possible  is the best policy, once you, your friends or your relatives are ill, no matter what grudge you may bear against the hospital. Remember not to volunteer advice to anybody on matters of life and death.