[Editorial] Patient first; person first

A cancer patient. A cancer case. Common terms, but ones that can have a great impact on patients and their mental health. By using disease-first language such as this, one can dehumanise the patient, equating them with their disease rather than referring to them as an individual. Dehumanising and stigma-laden terminology is rife in medicine, with oncology being no exception, and blame-ridden language is too often used when referring to people at risk for or who have cancer. Although not coming from a place of malice, or indeed reflective of an intentional effort to offend, these phrases are typically used as shorthand in an effort to aid communication, but the lack of empathy and awareness that accompanies the use of such language could also be linked with apathetic attitudes.