Editor’s Note: The following article was submitted to Patient Worthy by Regina Portnoy.

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

Throughout my career, I have heard variations of these words many times. But I have also heard them outside of my professional life, in conversations with family and friends. And I understand the reasoning behind them.

When we feel well, we assume that everything is fine. We do things, take care of our families, manage our responsibilities, and move through our daily routines. Making a doctor’s appointment when nothing seems wrong is often the last thing on our minds.

Yet I must admit, it is difficult to watch someone you love continually put their health aside. Not because you want to tell them what to do, but because you care about them and want them to be well.

After more than 20 years working in clinical research, particularly in oncology, I have learned something that has stayed with me.

Feeling fine does not always mean that everything is fine.

Working in oncology has given me the opportunity to see healthcare from a perspective that goes far beyond clinical trials, protocols, and treatments. Behind every diagnosis is a person, a family, and a life that can change in ways no one anticipated.

It has also made me think differently about the importance of paying attention to our bodies and recognizing when something deserves medical attention.

Take melanoma, for example.

A mole that begins to change in size, shape, or color may not hurt. A new or unusual spot on the skin may seem insignificant. It is easy to assume that if something is not causing discomfort, there is no reason to be concerned.

Yet melanoma can develop without pain, and identifying it early can make a significant difference in treatment options and outcomes.

This is why something as simple as noticing a change and scheduling an appointment with a dermatologist can matter.

The same principle applies to many other aspects of our health and even when we have no symptoms at all, recommended screenings and preventive appointments remain important.

I sometimes think about how much time we dedicate to everything else in our lives. We make time for volunteering, family obligations, and countless other responsibilities. We rearrange our schedules when something important comes up.

But how often do we give our own health that same priority? How often do we tell ourselves that we will schedule an appointment next month, or after a project is finished, or when life becomes a little less busy? And how often does that next month turn into another six months or even a year?

I believe that advocating for our health means being attentive, asking questions, and understanding that we have an important role in our own care.

We do not need a medical background to ask a physician why something is happening, whether additional evaluation is necessary, or what changes we should watch for.

We should feel comfortable having those conversations. And if we do not understand something, we should ask again.

In oncology clinical research, I have learned that some of the most important conversations about health begin long before someone ever considers participating in a clinical trial.

Those conversations may begin during a routine examination, after noticing an unfamiliar change, or simply by asking a question that has been on someone’s mind. But advocating for health does not have to stop with ourselves.

Sometimes, it is worth having that conversation with someone you love. Ask when they last had a checkup. Encourage them to make an appointment they have been postponing. And don’t let the conversation end there. Follow up with them. Ask whether they were able to schedule the appointment. Perhaps offer to go with them if they would feel more comfortable having someone by their side.

Sometimes, a little encouragement, a reminder, or simply being there can make a meaningful difference. Of course, we cannot make decisions for other people. But we can remind them that their health matters, that they matter, and that they do not have to navigate every concern alone.

The purpose of advocating for our health is not to guarantee an outcome. It is to give ourselves the opportunity to recognize concerns, seek appropriate care, and make informed decisions.

Being more than two decades in clinical research, I have tremendous respect for the courage people demonstrate when facing uncertainty about their health. Their experiences have also reinforced something I carry with me outside of my professional life.

Our health deserves our attention before it demands it.

Perhaps there is a screening you have been meaning to schedule. Perhaps you have noticed something different but have not found the time to discuss it. Or perhaps it has simply been a while since your last routine appointment.

And perhaps there is someone you love who needs a little encouragement to do the same.

Make the appointment. Have the conversation. Follow up with someone you care about.

Not because something is necessarily wrong. But because our health, and the health of those we love, deserves attention even when nothing hurts.

Sometimes, advocating for health begins with making that appointment. And sometimes, it begins with helping someone you love make theirs.