Reflection on a Health Professional

My reflective journal piece is centred on my observation of a local health care provider in the oncology field who tended to my aunt during her battle against cancer. Through the expression and philosophical analysis of the incident, I intend to draw awareness on the topic, “What is a disease and how do you treat it?”

“Kindness can transform someone's dark moment with a blaze of light. You'll never know how much your caring matters. Make a difference for another today.” – Amy Lee Mercree. What is a disease? How do you treat a disease? Should we as doctors treat the disease and the organ it affects or should we treat the entire patient as a ‘whole’? In order to achieve the best results in the fight against diseases, one must be treated on levels beyond that of simply physical.

When I was of age fifteen, my aunt was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer. I was deeply perturbed upon hearing such news as, although I was young, I knew cancer was a horrible ailment that took a severe toll on one’s body, mind and soul. I recall visiting her while she was in the hospital and meeting her doctor who struck me as a unique individual. As my aunt’s treatment commenced, he told of his wife who had succumbed to the very same malady and shared with us her struggles. He said that she inspired him to become a doctor, however, a different one at that…he would treat not only a patient’s body but also their mind. He said that cancer attacks the mind as aversely as it does the body, resulting in many social drawbacks but, with the right tactics, anyone can win the fight…in both body and mind. After many months of his treatment, which included medicine and therapy, my aunt fought the cancer and is to this day, a survivor.

The purpose of my reflection was to ponder upon an amalgamation of things: both my empathy and sympathy towards my aunt along with the doctor and the doctor’s methodology. Through continual scrutiny of the situation, I came to apprehend that the...