“Cancer is a social disease. involving family and caregivers: the dialogue, therefore, is not only with the patient but has the aim of reaching more people in order to be truly effective. However, speaking to different subjects at the same time causes even greater difficulties, because we often find ourselves faced with different levels of culture and understanding. For this reason, from the first meeting, it is necessary to understand what it is the gateway to better communicationbecause every communication is different from the other”.
So Maurizio Cantore, oncologist at Asst of Mantua ad Alleati per la Salute, the portal dedicated to medical-scientific information created by Novartis, focuses on the type of dialogue to be adopted during the diagnostic and therapeutic process. Especially when it comes to dealing with “difficult moments, such as a first diagnosis of cancer or a recurrence”, the doctor’s approach – underlines the expert – “has a strong impact on the well-being of the patient, on his ability to react and to carry on with the therapies constantly”.
In addition to the involvement of the family nucleus, or of those who support the patient in tackling the treatments, the oncologist – according to Cantore – in order to “set up a profitable relationship, must not immediately illustrate all the stages of the therapy in a timely manner, but convey a fundamental message: we will never be alone”. This expression is a clear indication of the way in which all communication with the patient and his family must be managed, which Cantore clarifies through the consideration that “the initial welcome starts from the first person plural” and from showing oneself not only as an oncologist, but as person capable of feeling emotions and actively participating in the patient’s journey.
“Whoever has a diagnosis of metastatic cancer immediately tries to remove their gaze towards the future – Cantore continues – by no longer declining the tenses to the future” but taking refuge in the past tense, seen as a more reassuring space than the present with a difficult diagnosis. “The oncologist must therefore undertake to open a window towards the future”, making use of this verb tense as much as possible.
That’s not all: “We need to make it clear that many pathologies, including metastatic breast disease – concludes Cantore – do not heal but we pass from a non-healing phase to a chronic phase. Even cancer, in fact, deserves chronic treatment as happens with many other common pathologies, such as hypertension”. The disease remains, but is tackled with personalized treatments that manage to lengthen the time available but also offer the best possible quality of life. And good communication must also aim to convey this new, encouraging message.
The complete article is available at: https://www.alleatiperlasalute.it/la-voce-del-paziente/lbilmente-della-comunicazione-medico-paziente-ambiente-oncologico