RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 How Giving and Receiving Information Has Shaped My Cancer Journey
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 555
OP 557
DO 10.1370/afm.2588
VO 18
IS 6
A1 Burman, Mary E.
YR 2020
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/18/6/555.abstract
AB I have been a nurse for 40 years and I now have metastatic breast cancer. I have learned a lot, especially about giving bad news, disclosing the diagnosis to others, and using the hospital’s patient portal. First, how bad news is given to patients is important and should provide clear next steps for follow-up and treatment. Second, telling family, friends, and colleagues about a new cancer diagnosis is more challenging than you might expect. It is emotionally draining and time consuming, and support by primary care clinicians (PCCs) could make a difference. Finally, patient portals can be very beneficial, but their use in a complex diagnostic process like metastatic cancer can be problematic. Primary care clinicians should explicitly discuss use of portals with patients so that they receive the information they need in the way they want.