Patients ’ values and preferences and communication about life expectancy: Combining honesty and hope

To be diagnosed with cancer, to live with cancer (and with the potential late effects of the disease), and – for some – eventually to die from cancer may represent a challenging journey for many of us. During this journey, clinicians play an important role, both as bearers of bad news and as potential sources of support. In the course of suffering from incurable cancer, there are a number of particul arly important moments of truth in the encounters between patient and clinician, such as the delivery of a diagnosis, important treatment decisions and, not the least, the discussion about prognosis, often triggered by a direct question from the patient: “How long do I have?”.
Source: Patient Education and Counseling - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: From the Editor Source Type: research