A matter of calibration

On learning to say the word 'cancer'

On Wednesday morning, I am already sitting in the triage office at the local emergency centre, trying to contain my breath. A nurse dabs a stethoscope around my chest. I am asked to say ‘99’ every time it touches down. She asks about allergies, hay fever, recent colds, foreign travel? Have I been taking my inhaler? I say that I’ve been under a lot of stress. I say that lungs seem to be cursed organs in my house lately. I say, My husband just got diagnosed with lung cancer. She says she’ll start the nebuliser in the treatment room.