Show L Marie L. Godfrey Uintah Unit President American Cancer I L Ul I F-k SI A 1 V 1111 the CanCer DOT I T II After someone finds a lump or develops a symptom which requires the attention of a there are usually days of uncertainty before the test results are All kinds of thoughts go through the patient's mind- well as If the patient in it is probably because the pa- tient wants to talk about and to share the This Is the point when you should communicate openly and help them maintain Waiting is always but waiting together eases the If suspicions of cancer are it should be the doctor who tells the pa When the doctor talks with the pa- tient and the family at the same rather than it gives the pa- tient a feeling of confidence that the truth is being told and that no one is withholding information However some patients prefer to have the initial diagnosis and these wishes should be respected How the tells the and how much is each depends v doctor knows about trie pa- Although the first impulse of anyone is to protect others from ing it is best to be The pa- tient who does not receive honest mation may feel isolated and more afraid of what is not being He may eventually lose trust in those around him OUen people are shocked at at hearing hearing ine wora cancer ana may not near anything else the physician If a family friend nurse or social worker is one of them can later help recall and clarify what has been Some people can absorb tion only in small be careful of discussing more than pa- and are con- and ready to talk about the il- if so Above alle careful not to shut the person off because are talking about Most of the information here is directly from an ACS with your by Marion F. |