A Collection of Clinical Case Stories as Emotional Landscapes of The General Physician-Headland

Short Communication

A Collection of Clinical Case Stories as Emotional Landscapes of The General Physician-Headland

Jose Luis Turabian ID ^*

Specialist in Family and Community Medicine, Health Center Santa Maria de Benquerencia. Regional Health Service of Castilla la Mancha (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain.

*Corresponding Author: Jose Luis Turabian, Specialist in Family and Community Medicine, Health Center Santa Maria de Benquerencia. Regional Health Service of Castilla la Mancha (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain.

Citation: Jose L. Turabian. (2026). A Collection of Clinical Case Stories as Emotional Landscapes of The General Physician - Headland, International Clinical and Medical Case Reports, BioRes Scientia Publishers. 5(3):1-2. DOI: 10.59657/2837-5998.brs.26.061

Copyright: © 2026 Jose Luis Turabian, this is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Received: February 16, 2026 | Accepted: June 30, 2026 | Published: July 24, 2026

Abstract

This International Clinical and Medical Case Reports section is a collection of descriptive clinical vignettes, "like the plates in a geography atlas" that will present the emotional situations (empathy, frustration, sadness, joy, exhaustion, etc.) metaphorically described as emotional landscapes (which can have emotional, cultural and spiritual significance for people, evoking feelings of peace, beauty, nostalgia or belonging): mountains, volcanoes, rivers, valleys, islands, waterfalls, glaciers, fjords, estuaries, etc, and who are experienced by general practitioners, when they deal with different clinical cases and patients, with the aim of achieving a greater understanding of what we are and what we do as doctors in relation to patients. This story presents a relapsed follicular lymphoma case with a months-long history of cough with exertional dyspnea and great asthenia, in a strong and resistant patient. And this landscape emotionally produces in the family doctor a feeling of compassion, and suggests to him a headland composed mainly of resistant rock that juts out into the sea, but which is gradually eroded by the force of the waves, opening bays and coves, and over time the main force of erosion is gradually transferred to the exposed finger of rock, which breaks down and wears it away until it disappears entirely.

Keywords: follicular lymphoma: compassion; patient-physician relationship; emotions; metaphor; general practitioner; cultural landscape

Clinical Vignette/ Emotional Landscape: Headland

Hannah, 54, married with one emancipated son, works as a library documentalist. Her only medical history is follicular lymphoma [1-3].

Diagnosed 13 years ago. She began treatment 10 years ago with rituximab and bendamustine. She completed maintenance treatment 7 years ago. Excellent tolerance. CT scan in complete remission at this date.

Six months ago (coinciding with her husband's adjustment disorder due to work problems), Hannah began experiencing a cough. She was treated symptomatically with various cough suppressants and bronchodilators, but the cough persisted chronically, leading to several medical consultations where she complained of cough, dyspnea, chest sounds, and nasal congestion. Later, fatigue, weakness, dysphonia, and headache were added. Lung auscultation was normal. She was treated with several courses of antibiotics, without improvement. Laboratory tests showed greater leukopenia than previous findings. Due to a possible relapse of the follicular lymphoma [4], the patient was referred to the hematology department. A chest X-ray showed a normal cardiothoracic index and nonspecific changes in the lung parenchyma without clear infiltrates; there was no pleural effusion. The RNA viruses Influenza A, RNA Influenza B, RNA Respiratory Syncytial Virus, and SARS-CoV-2 were undetectable. A complete blood count showed 2.7 x 10^9/L of leukocytes. His cough symptoms were classified as residual cough with dyspnea on exertion. A CT scan and ENT study are pending. Low levels of immunoglobulin were detected in his blood, and he received immunoglobulin therapy to help replace or restore immunoglobulin levels and fight infections.

At a follow-up visit after months of progressive cough, he came in wearing a mask. She continues to have severe coughing fits… The GP has always maintained a good doctor-patient relationship with Hannah. Her calm, cautious voice and blue eyes gave her a sweet, yet tough, resilient appearance… like a rock entering the sea…

The GP listens to Hannah speaking between coughing fits…

“I'm so tired… I can't take it anymore… I can't work… How come I'm not getting better with any treatment… not even with antibiotics?”

The GP, with a warm smile and a calm, reassuring tone of voice, tries to foster a sense of security and comfort.

“Calm down, Hannah, I understand your anxiety and the difficulties you're going through… Your 'cold' is lasting so long because of your low immune system. You'll see that you'll get better when your immune system returns…” says the doctor.

“I know you're a person with great resilience, courage, and bravery… You'll see how you can improve in the coming weeks…” explains the GP.

“…Okay… I understand. When I get better, we'll have a party…” says Hannah.

Headlands mostly consist of resistant rock that juts out into the sea between areas of softer rock or natural weaknesses in the ground. Although the force of waves is initially focused on the less resistant rock in between, opening up bays and coves, the main force of erosion is gradually transferred to the exposed finger of rock, which breaks down and wears it away over time until it disappears entirely.

The GP feels the strong pounding of the waves on the rocks of the headland that juts out into the sea… And he feels compassion for that wounded, eroded rock… that could collapse: Feelings of pity, tenderness, and identification with Hannah's situation. The GP understands Hannah's suffering and is willing to help and promote her well-being to find a solution to her situation [5].

It is a mistake to assume that the words empathy, sympathy, and compassion are interchangeable. Empathy means that one feels what another person feels; sympathy means that one understands what the person feels; compassion is the willingness to alleviate another's suffering. One can be empathetic without being compassionate; psychopaths, for example, are often adept at reading people's emotions. Similarly, many good doctors are compassionate without being particularly empathetic [6].

Our ability to perceive and connect with the suffering of others allows us to feel and understand their pain. The personal anguish we experience when observing the pain of others often motivates us to respond with compassion. As the Dalai Lama stated, “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive” [7].

Compassionate care plays a crucial role in improving patient care and clinical outcomes, while reducing caregiver burnout and the risk of medical malpractice litigation [8].

References

Freedman, A., Jacobsen, E. (2020). Follicular Lymphoma: 2020 Update on Diagnosis and Management. American Journal of Hematology, 95(3):316-327.
Publisher | Google Scholor
Kaseb, H., Ali, M. A., Gasalberti, D. P., Koshy, N. V. (2024). Follicular Lymphoma. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.
Publisher | Google Scholor
Carbone, A., Roulland, S., Gloghini, A., Younes, A., von Keudell, G., et al. (2019). Follicular Lymphoma. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 5(1):83.
Publisher | Google Scholor
Singh D, Singh A, Mukkamalla SKR. (2023). Relapsed and Refractory Follicular Lymphoma. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.
Publisher | Google Scholor
Perez-Bret, E., Altisent, R., Rocafort, J. (2016). Definition of Compassion in Healthcare: A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 22(12):599-606.
Publisher | Google Scholor
O'Mahony, S. (2022). The Importance of Empathy-Author's Reply. The Lancet, 400(10348):272.
Publisher | Google Scholor
Riess, H. (2017). The Science of Empathy. Journal of Patient Experience, 4(2):74-77.
Publisher | Google Scholor
Watts, E., Patel, H., Kostov, A., Kim, J., Elkbuli, A. (2023). The Role of Compassionate Care in Medicine: Toward Improving Patients’ Quality of Care and Satisfaction. Journal of Surgical Research, 289:1-7.
Publisher | Google Scholor

Delia Teresa Sponza

"Journal of BioMed Research and Reports has created a diverse portfolio in peer review process and provides a wide range scientific and medical novel papers to the scientists. This journal publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed content across all levels of professional development and corporate research and development."

Fatema Tashrifwala

I would like to thank the editorial team for their timely responses and consideration in the publication of my paper. They have been very helpful and accommodating, Lastly, being an open access journal, the published work is freely available and accessible to readers at no cost to them. I would encourage other authors to publish their research in BioRes Scientia. I am happy to be a part of BioRes Scientia Publishers.

Dr Nikhil Vitthal Dayama

I would like to thank the editorial team for their timely and prompt responses and consideration in the publication of my case report. Being an open access journal, it will be great help for the readers to learn the new things without any cost. I would encourage the authors to publish their research in BioRes Scientia and I am happy to be part of this journal.

Boubacar Ahy Diatta

I warmly thank the editorial team for the excellent work they do for continuing medical education in Dermatology. I was able to discover with joy their professionalist, their support and above all appreciate their social generosity on the access to the magazines which is free. This allows an update of scientific knowledge to the entire scientific community. I gladly recommend authors for publication in this journal.

Professor Rajko Igic

The editor of JBRR helped me during the whole process, mainly to eliminate some typographical and other errors. It hastened this publication to be published quickly. Although it is a short text, I believe that the content is important for all medical and other scientific disciplines because eventual addition of the iC citations to citation of the paper would lead to proper assessment of the author's contribution.

Dr Tewodros kassahun Tarekegn

I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to publish my research article in this prestigious journal. The entire process of peer review and publication support provided by the editorial office was exceptional, and it fortified my belief in the quality of my research study. The rigorous peer review process ensured that only the highest quality research was published, and the feedback from the reviewers was extremely helpful. I appreciate the journal's commitment to open access publication, enabling my research to reach a wider audience. The easy-to-use online platform streamlined the submission, peer review, and publication process, and I would confidently recommend this journal to any author looking for efficient, rigorous, and high-quality peer-reviewed publication.

Francis Okello Ooko

I was impressed by your author-centred approach whereby you maintained constant and timely communication with us from the time we submitted the manuscript to acceptance, each time providing critical suggestions to improve the manuscript. In addition, we are encouraged by the thoroughness of your editorial team in checking the originality and overall, quality of the work. Which I believe is very encouraging to other researchers and authors who wish to publish their work in your journals. The published work and the information imparted is freely available and accessible to a wide spectrum of readers at no cost to them. I would encourage other authors to publish their research in BioRes Scientia. I am happy to be a part of BioRes Scientia Publishers.

Dr Nidhi Sapolia

I would like to thank the editorial team of their timely response and guidance in the publication of my case report. They have been extremely helpful at all stages. Being an open access journal, it is of great help for the readers to learn new experiences in different fields, I would highly recommend this journal to authors for high quality peer-reviewed publications.

Dwight L Mckee MD CNS ABIHM

I am very impressed by the high quality of the papers published by the International Journal of Clinical and Molecular Oncology. The editors of this journal are a pleasure to work with, as they are highly responsive even to numerous last minute changes in the manuscript that I recently published with them, and the changes are made on-line the same day they are received. I highly recommend this journal to anyone working in the oncology field, and also value it as a source of cutting edge information in the field.

Kyaw Swar Thet

I would like to thank the editorial team for the opportunity to publish our case report in this prestigious journal. I am very impressed by their timely and efficient handling of the submission, peer review, and publication processes. As residents of a developing, low-income country, we greatly appreciate the discount on submission charges. I hope that as an open access journal, it will facilitate easy access for readers to update their scientific knowledge. I highly recommend this journal for high-quality, peer-reviewed publications. I express my sincere gratitude to the editorial team for their excellent work.

Michel Farah

I would like to thank the editorial team for their quick response and support. The publication support and editorial office were excellent and very helpful. I am happy to have my research article published in this prestigious journal. Our previous case report published in this journal was very successful and viewed by many physicians worldwide.

Kristina Dimitrijevic

I am very positively surprised by thе International Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Research, as well as by the review process itself, which is carried out in a high-quality, timely and professional manner. I am glad that my articles are part of this journal.

Hamid Kasim

I had the pleasure of working with your esteemed journal. I testify that the peer review process was effective and quick, the support from the editorial office is very professional, respectful and friendly and the quality of the review is objective and accurate. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with International Journal of Biomedical & Clinical Research and looking forward for more future cooperation.

Ochala Ejura J

The interaction with the Journal of Women Health Care and Gynaecology has been seamless. I wish to express my profound appreciation to your expert editorial team for the timely response and support. The feedbacks from the peer review process was of great help. Thank you for the discount and opportunity to publish in your reputable journal. I believe that being an Open access journal, it will enable readers easy access to to update their knowledge. I would recommend BioRes Scientia publishers and look forward to more collaborations.

Fernando M Clara

I would like to thank the Journal of Clinical Cardiology and Cardiology Research for the opportunity to publish our work. We greatly appreciate the professionalism demonstrated throughout the editorial process. The rapid peer review, along with the high-quality graphic design, streamlined the process and significantly improved the final presentation of our manuscript. The Journal’s support for scientific dissemination is a meaningful incentive for ongoing research. We commend your editorial efforts and extend our best wishes for the Journal's continued success.

Dr Stylianos Sergios Chatziioannou

Journal of BioMed Research and Reports process was constructive and timely, ensuring that the scientific rigor of the manuscript was upheld. Communication with the editorial office was smooth and supportive throughout, making the overall publication experience very positive. I appreciate the efforts of the editorial team in maintaining high-quality standards, and I am confident that the journal will continue to grow in impact and recognition.

Dr C Zeroual

I am pleased to have worked with the Journal of Brain Research and Neurology. The editorial team was responsive and supportive throughout the process, and the peer review was handled efficiently. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this journal and look forward to future collaborations

Mohammadreza Kashefi Baher

I am pleased to have published my research in Dentistry and Oral Health Care. The peer review process was efficient and respectful, and I appreciated the timely communication and support from the editorial team. The journal maintains a professional standard and provides an accessible platform for sharing scientific work. I am grateful for the opportunity and look forward to contributing again in the future.

Cidalia De Fatima Cabral De Frias

I would like to thank the editorial team of International Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Research for their prompt and timely responses during the review process of my article. I had the opportunity to share with the academic community my understanding of the process of caring for a person at the end of life. I recommend the publication of research in the area of palliative care in this prestigious journal.

Roxana Maria Hoza

The peer review process at Hematology Research and Blood Disorders is fair and constructive. The editorial office provides excellent support and timely communication. The journal maintains high quality and is a trusted platform for hematology research.

Dr Hamid Kasim

I was very pleased to collaborate with your esteemed Journal of BioMed Research and Reports, and I also thank the editorial board and the reviewers who enriched my article with their very helpful comments, resulting in a beautiful and elegant presentation. I hope our collaboration will continue in the future, With my respect and best wishes for your continued success.

Dr Sabita Sinha

I would like to sincerely thank the editorial team for their excellent support and for handling the review process smoothly. The entire publication process was well organized and easy to follow. My special thanks go to Katherine Bailey Ma'am for her continuous guidance and support from article submission to publication. Her assistance made the experience very positive and encouraging. I truly enjoyed the process and would highly recommend this Journal of BioMed Research and Reports to other researchers.

Jerome H Check

Clinical Case Reports and Studies peer review is rigorous and constructive, improving clarity and methodology. The editorial office is professional and responsive, with a user-friendly submission system and helpful language-editing support. Overall, the journal maintains high editorial standards and offers strong visibility for clinical research.

M Chandramohan

Our experience with the journal has been highly professional and rewarding. The peer review process was rigorous, transparent, and constructive, providing valuable insights that significantly strengthened the quality of our manuscript. The editorial office offered exceptional support throughout the submission and publication journey, ensuring timely communication and clear guidance at every stage. Their responsiveness and attention to detail made the entire process smooth and efficient. Overall, the journal maintains a high standard of scientific quality and integrity, making it a credible and respected platform for disseminating research. We truly appreciate the commitment to excellence demonstrated by the entire editorial team.