By Regina Portnoy

“Nothing hurts. I feel fine. Why would I need to see a doctor?”

I understand that thought because I’ve heard it from people I love. I’ve also heard the reasons for waiting: the trip, the kids, the family plans, the work that has to get done first. When nothing hurts, making an appointment can feel easy to put off.

With more than 20 years in clinical research, specializing in hematology and oncology, I’ve learned that feeling fine doesn’t always tell us what’s happening in our bodies. Some of the most personal reminders of why health deserves our attention have come from people I love—and from the moments they had to decide whether to make an appointment.

Someone I love noticed a lump. It didn’t hurt, and life was busy, so it was easy to think, I’ll deal with it later. After an ultrasound, the lump was removed, and they learned it was cancerous. I still think about how easily they might have kept putting off the appointment. We can’t know what would have happened if they had waited longer, but their experience reminds me why it matters to speak up and seek care when we notice a change. We can’t control every outcome, but we can take our concerns seriously and ask for help before a delay becomes a missed opportunity for care.

The appointments we put off

Someone else spent several days in the garden, then felt pain and assumed they had strained a muscle. By chance, they described what was happening to someone who encouraged them to see a doctor. The evaluation found a mass that needed prompt treatment. I think about how easily that conversation might not have happened—and how much it mattered that someone listened and urged them to get checked.

Another person I care about noticed a mole changing color. Skin can change for many reasons, and it would have been easy to dismiss it. They went to a dermatologist. The spot was removed, and now they have regular skin checks. Seeing that change in someone I care about made the advice I’d heard throughout my career feel deeply personal: pay attention to what is new or changing, and ask a professional about it.

Know the signs

The ABCDE signs can help us notice possible warning signs of melanoma:

• A – Asymmetry: one half doesn’t match the other

• B – Border: edges are irregular, ragged or blurred

• C – Color: uneven shades of brown, black, red, white or blue

• D – Diameter: larger than about 6 mm, the size of a pencil eraser, though melanomas can be smaller

• E – Evolving: changing in size, shape or color

  
  

These signs aren’t a diagnosis, and a spot doesn’t have to show every sign to be worth asking about. If a spot is new or changing, or it itches or bleeds, a dermatologist can help determine whether it needs evaluation.

Preventive appointments matter, too, even when we feel well. Depending on our age, health history, and risk, a clinician may recommend screenings such as breast, cervical, or colorectal cancer screening. If you’re unsure what’s appropriate for you, ask at your next appointment—or make one specifically to talk it through.

"Our health deserves our attention before it demands it."

Making the call

I know how full life gets. I know an appointment can feel like one more thing to fit in. But I keep thinking about the people I’ve described: the loved one whose lump didn’t hurt, the person who thought the pain came from gardening, and the person who noticed a changing mole and went to a dermatologist.

Their stories don’t tell us what any symptom means. They remind me that we don’t have to figure it out alone. We can be our own advocates: speak up about what we’ve noticed, ask questions, and seek care when something concerns us.

If it’s hard to make the appointment for yourself, think of someone you love. Think of the time you want to share with them—and how they want more time with you, too. Let that love help you take the next step.

If there’s something you’ve noticed, bring it up with a healthcare professional. If there’s a checkup or screening you’ve been meaning to schedule, call and ask what’s recommended for you. And if someone you love keeps putting it off, ask again. Offer to help make the appointment or go with them. Sometimes a caring conversation can help someone take the next step—and that step may save a life.

Our health deserves our attention before it demands it. Let’s make the appointment, ask the question, and show up for ourselves and the people we love.

About the Contributor

Regina Portnoy is a clinical research professional with more than 20 years of global experience, specializing in hematology and oncology. In 2026, she was named a finalist in the Clinical Trial Manager category of the PharmaTimes Clinical Researcher of the Year—The Americas competition. Writing has been her passion since age 11, and she is dedicated to helping women feel seen, valued, and supported. She and her daughter are preparing to lead “The Power of Belief,” a workshop at a Miami, Florida shelter for women and children, bringing together creativity, hope, and encouragement.