The Power of Language in Diagnosis: An Analysis of the Role of Words, Phrases, and Silences in Diagnosis Based on Autobiographies by Cancer Survivors & Oncologists

Abstract The diagnosis of cancer is a life-altering event that can leave individuals feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and uncertain about their future. The words and phrases used to convey this news can have a severe impact on the patient's emotional and psychological well-being. This research paper will explore how language plays a crucial role in diagnosis, using autobiographies of cancer survivors and oncologists, in order to provide insights into the ways in which words, phrases, and silences can influence the diagnostic experience. Language is a powerful tool that can either soothe or intensify the emotional agonies of cancer diagnosis. As noted by Dr. Eric J. Cassell, a prominent palliative care physician, the language we use when talking to patients has the power to heal or harm. In his autobiography, When Breath Becomes Air, Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon diagnosed with terminal cancer, reflects on the importance of empathy and understanding in communication, which highlights the devastating impact of abrupt and insensitive language on a patient's emotional state. Meanwhile, Lisa Sander's autobiography Every Patient Tells a Story (2009) illustrates the power of a language that gives hope during diagnosis, where she demonstrates how positive language can foster resilience and empowerment with reference to numerous patient stories. Silence can also play a significant role in diagnosis. Elisha Waldman, a paediatric oncologist turned author, writes in his 2018 autobiography, This Narrow Space that there is a time to be silent and a time to speak, and the trick in medicine is to figure out which among to choose according to situations. This study contributes to the growing body of research on the importance of communication in healthcare, highlighting the need for healthcare providers to consider the linguistic dimensions of diagnosis during medical school training itself to develop more effective strategies for delivering good and bad news. Keywords: Diagnosis, Language, Illness, Cancer, Autobiographies