You Are NOT Your Diagnosis
“The thyroid cancer is in room 4.”
That’s how the staff indicated what room I was in during a checkup. I politely went out and said something along the lines of, “I understand HIPPA. However, I am NOT just someone with thyroid cancer. I’m so much more.”
The staff apologized – but I’m sure as soon as I was gone, they reverted back to announcing who was where, based simply on their diagnosis.
A Diagnosis Does Not Define Who We Are
What happened in that doctor’s office isn’t unique to me—it’s a common occurrence for those navigating serious illnesses. Medical environments often streamline communication by referring to people based on their conditions: “the breast cancer in room 5,” “the diabetic patient waiting,” or “the heart failure in the ER.” (Yikes!) It may seem like a convenient shorthand for busy professionals, but this constant reduction of individuals to their diagnoses chips away at a fundamental truth: We are so much more than our illnesses.
A diagnosis is a medical condition, not an identity. It’s something we manage, endure, or battle, but it doesn’t represent our full selves. We have names, personalities, dreams, and experiences that extend far beyond any medical chart. Yet, in the context of healthcare, it can feel as though the very things that make us unique are overshadowed by the illness we’re carrying.
The Emotional Toll of Being Reduced to a Condition
This type of labeling can have a deeper emotional impact than many realize. Being identified only by a disease strips away our humanity in an already vulnerable situation. It leaves people feeling like their whole existence is reduced to what’s wrong with them rather than acknowledging what’s right with them—their strength, courage, and all the qualities that make them unique. When healthcare professionals focus solely on the diagnosis, it can contribute to feelings of isolation and disconnection.
Beyond the emotional toll, it can also create a sense of powerlessness. If we’re only seen as “the cancer patient,” how do we maintain our sense of self-worth? How do we remember that we are still capable, creative, and worthy human beings in the face of such reductive thinking?
More Than a Diagnosis: A Call for Empathy
It’s not just about changing the language—it’s about changing the mindset. While healthcare providers are often overwhelmed, we must encourage a shift in how they see and talk about patients. Referring to people by name and acknowledging them beyond their illness may seem like small changes, but these actions make a big difference. It affirms that even in the most difficult moments, we remain whole individuals.
This issue isn’t confined to cancer or any single illness. Whether it’s chronic pain, autoimmune diseases, mental health conditions, and so on, people across the healthcare spectrum experience this reduction. By shifting our approach, we can create an environment of dignity and compassion for everyone.
We are not our diagnoses. We are partners, parents, friends, artists, teachers, athletes, and so much more. Even in the face of illness, our true identity should be respected and cherished. So, let’s ask more from our healthcare systems—and from society as a whole—to see people for who they are, not just what they are fighting.
If this happens to you, please take the time to respectfully explain why you are so much more than your diagnosis. They may not even realize they’re doing it!
A Final Thought: Everyone Deserves to Be Seen
When we talk about someone, whether as medical professionals or friends and family, let’s do better. Let’s remember to use names, to ask how they’re doing beyond the disease, and to celebrate who they are. Everyone deserves to be seen, not for their struggles, but for their spirit, their heart, and their undeniable humanity.
I’d love to know your thoughts on this subject. Has this happened to you?
