A Suspect Diagnosis

When Mora questioned Olga Galiano, she responded that she had felt severe pain under her left armpit. He examined her and found a tumor the size of a lemon that appeared to be located in her breast.

"It was very dramatic," Mora recalled. "I said, 'Listen, there are no more questions. You have breast cancer,' and I admitted her immediately and called oncology" to begin further testing and treatment.

Ruben Galiano remembers the incident differently. "Dr. Mora called us in and said, 'I have good news and bad news. The good news is that she doesn't have MS. The bad news is that she has cancer, and we have to find out where.' "

Mora said that although he was shocked, he felt strangely happy. Cancer could be treated, maybe even cured. Subsequent testing revealed that the tumor, although large, had not spread to distant organs.

Since then the couple, who live in Silver Spring, has endured the punishing roller coaster that accompanies treatment for cancer: mastectomy, radiation, chemotherapy, endless tests and numerous trips to the hospital.

A few weeks ago, testing showed a recurrence, and Olga Galiano, who is now 61, has begun experimental treatment.

Ruben Galiano's dedication "to the care and participation in the treatment of his wife is exemplary," Mora said. "They are both fighters. But this news is hard."

Galiano said that after Mora made the diagnosis, his son was upset and asked him, "Dad, why are you happy? What's wrong with you?"

"I told him I wasn't happy she had cancer," Galiano said, "but I was happy she was finally getting treatment for the right thing." ¿

If you have a Medical Mystery that has been solved, e-mailmedicalmysteries@washpost.com. To read previous mysteries, go tohttp://www.washingtonpost.com/health.