Lung cancer – Breaking bad news.

1. check who you are speaking to

2. check how much patient knows

3. Break the news in layers

4. show sympathy and empathy

5. Explain the cancer is at the stage where we can not cure.

6. explain that we will give palliative therapy i.e pain relief and radiotherapy to relieve the symptoms

7. check if the question contain how long patient has remaining for him to live and make sure you tell him that.(
last time it was 6 months)

8. Multidisciplinary team-pain team, physiotherapist, oncologist.

Other help-Mcmillan nurses, social services.

9. Offer leaflets and websites and support groups.