ABSTRACT
This chapter provides guidelines for the non-professional carer and is intended to offer practical advice and ideas. It is usual for the patient to be the first to be told they have cancer, but occasionally the situation arises where the family knows first. Professional carers know the results of tests before the patient does, but they do not usually tell the relatives first. Results are delivered to clinics and wards and in the course of being filed in the patient’s notes, they may be seen by clerical and clinical staff. It’s not easy giving someone ‘bad news’, so it is probably best for the person to wait until the doctor tells the patient, but it is difficult not to let something show that the person know. There are other patients who are just as sick who are also waiting to start their treatment. An expert who will see the results will decide the most appropriate course of action.
