Why We Stay Silent (and Why We Shouldn’t)
You might not want to discuss awkward symptoms — such as pain during sex, irregular bowel movements, urinary issues, or odd rashes — with your doctor because you feel ashamed about them or their potential causes. But it’s important to know that your doctor has seen these symptoms before.
Dr. Gunturi says that some of her patients wait over a year before coming in about their symptoms. “And then it just gets worse,” she says. A research study of more than 2,000 people found that 32 percent didn’t address symptoms at their doctor’s appointment due to worries of being judged, being embarrassed, or out of modesty. Women and people for whom high school was the highest level of education attained were most likely to avoid these conversations with their doctors.
Gunturi, who mostly sees female patients for breast or gynecologic cancers, notices that they are often especially hesitant to talk about their bodies. “I think a lot of women find it very personal and maybe embarrassing to talk about,” she says. “Maybe their moms and their grandmothers were always kind of quiet about their personal issues and maybe they feel like it’s just not something to talk about.”
This is because detecting diseases like cancer earlier on makes it easier for doctors to treat them. While your symptoms aren’t necessarily a sign of cancer, it’s important to check just in case, especially when symptoms persist. “If you let it sit for too long, then all of a sudden, the cancer grows and grows,” says Dr. Koo. “It has a greater chance to spread to different parts of the body.”
Gunturi wants her patients to feel comfortable bringing up symptoms as soon as they start. “People should know that what happens in an exam room between a patient and a doctor is 100 percent confidential,” she says. “So it’s a really, really safe space.”
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