ABSTRACT
Much has been written on the subject of communication with cancer patients, and many training courses are available. Patients may complain that they were actually told too much, but at least this technique allows them to listen at their own pace, and to listen more than once. It is of interest that the use of taped interviews in a general practice setting increased patient recall, improved satisfaction with the treatment offered and helped patients to share the information with others involved in their care. There are a number of issues that can arise when people are speaking to patients. These include: anger, collusion, confidentiality issues, denial, distancing oneself from the patient, getting too close to the patient, and refusal to talk. It is a well-documented fact that on hearing the word 'cancer', the shock can be such that the rest of the conversation is lost and the patient may subsequently deny having been given significant pieces of information.
