Healthcare from the Patient's Perspective

 Jillian Olear

Prof. John Horgan 

HST 401A Seminar in Science Writing- Paper #2

08 February 2026

I pledge my honor that I have abided by the Stevens Honor System.

Healthcare from the Patient’s Perspective

I had cancer when I was thirteen. I kind of hate talking about it. Well, that’s a lie. I don’t mind talking about it, but I also don’t like bringing it up. Especially when it’s been so long since I went through it and I’m in an entirely different stage of life now. However, being a cancer survivor gives me a somewhat-unique perspective on the healthcare system. I have many opinions on where I think the problems that lie within it are located. Some that I was fortunate not to experience at the time, but not lucky enough to entirely avoid.

My mom was measuring my height when she noticed what she thought was a swollen thyroid (turns out it wasn’t). It was a Sunday, her and my dad were supposed to get on a plane and go to Florida on Wednesday. She booked me an appointment to be seen by my doctor for peace of mind before they left. I went to my pediatrician the next day where I was sent for tests and bloodwork. And the day after that, Tuesday, was the day I was diagnosed with Stage IIA Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Needless to say, neither of them got on that plane (instead we ate pizza on the couch). But my diagnosis was found because I had a doctor who listened to me and was able to get me into her office on short notice. I had it easy. Not everyone does.

Society preaches that we, as patients, need to advocate for ourselves. Only we know our own bodies, so when there’s something abnormal, we’d be the first to know. If we feel there is something wrong, we should get that checked immediately to confirm or deny, as well as to fix the issue. But what if you can’t be seen quickly by your doctor? This is a huge issue in healthcare right now, mainly due to the fact that there aren’t enough physicians to keep up with demand. Most older doctors are retiring and there are not enough opportunities for new doctors interested in specialty practices. According to a 2022 survey from AMN Healthcare, the time it takes to schedule an appointment has increased by 8% since 2017 and by 24% since 2004. Not to mention that this is just in major cities- availability could be even scarcer in more suburban/rural areas (Kloss). I was lucky that I was able to be diagnosed within the short amount of time I was. It was found so early that I only needed six chemotherapy infusions. I often wonder what would’ve happened had that not been the case. I could’ve been left to wait, much like many others currently are. They shouldn’t have to.

Whether it was days or months, the appointment will roll around. You’ll sit in the examination room, waiting to be seen. Your doctor will walk in, you’ll explain why you’re there and what you feel is wrong. This is the part where they should validate you, examine the issue, and then explain what’s going on. But that’s not always reality. A lot of the time, patients have experiences where they’re not understood or heard. The physician will say things that are incomprehensible to an individual without a medical background, blow off the issue, or, quite plainly, not listen. According to a study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, it was demonstrated that clinicians regularly fail to practice active listening when meeting with patients. Specifically, it was found that doctors interrupted in 67% of the encounters analyzed (Advisory Board). This means that over half of these visits resulted in patients feeling unseen and frustrated. Again, I was lucky. My doctor listened and validated my concerns. It turned out I (and my mom) had a good reason to panic. But there’s been other experiences where I’ve felt this way. There’s people in my family who have fallen victim to this. It’s unfair. 

Just because I didn’t experience them then, doesn’t mean I don’t have these struggles now. I’ve had issues booking appointments for yearly follow-ups. Even though I’ve been lucky to have good doctors, it makes me more aware and frustrated when I encounter one who’s not. The worst part of it all is the constant reminder of what happened to me. The medical anxiety that no one talks about. Whenever I feel something “off” or “wrong,” I don’t want to go see a doctor because of the system healthcare has created. Not only is there the dread of having to deal with these issues, but there’s the fear that something as serious as cancer could be found again. It’s a common phenomenon that many people experience known as iatrophobia, where individuals fear going to doctors or getting medical tests (Cleveland Clinic). Granted, my fear is not as severe as others. But imagine having this kind of anxiety on top of having to go through the process of being seen by a physician. How are these people, people like myself, supposed to feel as though they can advocate for themselves? How am I supposed to want to seek help from healthcare professionals, when I’m often left feeling anxious and defeated by the system?

Realistically, I’m not sure if these problems in healthcare will be remedied. Unfortunately, I think there are some that are irreparable. However, if cancer has taught me anything, it’s that I can remain positive. I can be hopeful that there will one day be solutions. And while I don’t like talking about cancer unless it’s relevant, I’ll keep doing it, ultimately because I’m here to talk about it. That’s one thing to thank the healthcare system for at least. 

Works Cited

“Amn Physician Surveys: Amn Healthcare.” AMN Physician Surveys | AMN Healthcare, 

www.amnhealthcare.com/amn-insights/physician/surveys/. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026. 

“Iatrophobia (Fear of Doctors): Symptoms, Causes & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic, 10 Dec. 

2025, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22191-iatrophobia-fear-of-doctors. 

Kloss, Kelsey. “Why It’s so Difficult to Get Doctors’ Appointments Right Now.” CreakyJoints, 8 

May 2023, creakyjoints.org/living-with-arthritis/coronavirus/treatments/difficult-getting-doc-appointment/#:~:text=The%20Shortage%20of%20Doctors,getting%20older%20and%20retiring%2C%20too. 

“Your Choice Regarding Extending Session on This Site.” 87% of Doctors Say They’re Great at 

Listening to Patients. (But the Evidence Doesn’t Support That.), www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2018/12/14/listening#:~:text=Separate%20research%20shows%20clinicians%20have,waiting%20up%20to%20234%20seconds. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.