ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to understand barriers of cancer health care with migrant patients and to raise awareness on the influence of language in cancer consultations. It explains awareness of the role of emotions in cancer consultations with migrant patients, and provides some tools to overcome barriers’ for cancer care in a diversity-sensitive manner. Since communication about cancer issues is often emotionally charged, interpretation by an in-person interpreter or by using video interpreting is preferred over telephone interpreting services. Health literacy is discussed as an increasingly critical factor affecting communication across the continuum of cancer care. Previous literature suggests that religion and spirituality play a central role in the way patients cope with cancer. Patients with cancer who use spiritual coping to a greater extent are more likely to desire life-sustaining treatments. In end-of-life situations such as cancer, emotions can take the lead and make both health care provider and patient feel uncomfortable.
