Telling the Diagnosis

Abstract

One of the most important aspects of cancer care is to establish communication between medical care personnel the health care team), the patient, and the patient’s family. Physicians, nurses, dieticians, social workers, and the entire gamut of professional and support personnel all interact with the cancer patient. This communication system is crucial to the patient’s concept of well-being and, if effective and appropriate for the patient, may make a meaningful contribution to the actual duration of life.