Ideas

Explore the patient’s ideas about the current issue:

 “What do you think the problem is?”

 “What are your thoughts about what is happening?”
 “It’s clear that you’ve given this a lot of thought and it would be helpful to hear
what you think might be going on.”

Concerns
Explore the patient’s current concerns:

 “Is there anything, in particular, that’s worrying you?”

 “What’s your number one concern regarding this problem at the moment?”
 “What’s the worst thing you were thinking it might be?”

Expectations
Ask what the patient hopes to gain from the consultation:

 “What were you hoping I’d be able to do for you today?”

 “What would ideally need to happen for you to feel today’s consultation was a
success?”
 “What do you think might be the best plan of action?”

 “Would you prefer to have a family member or friend here?”. Likewise, if there
is someone else already in the room, check to see if your patient would prefer to
be told alone.

Perception
“Yes, the reason we wanted to do the tests were so we could find out why you have
been experiencing the symptoms you just described to me. Were you aware of what
sort of things the investigations might show?”

“Symptoms like the ones you’ve been describing can sometimes be as a result of an
infection, but sometimes they can be as a result of more serious underlying
conditions”. 
 Invitation

I have the result here today, would you like me to explain it to you now?”.

Knowledge
“As you know we took a biopsy/did a scan, and unfortunately the results were not as
we hoped”.

“I’m sorry to tell you this, but the results from the investigations show you have
cancer”.

Example
“I’m afraid it’s not the news we were hoping for Mrs Brown.”

“Unfortunately, the lump is due to a more serious underlying cause.”

“I’m so sorry to tell you, but you have breast cancer.”

PAUSE until the patient speaks, or seems ready to talk again.

“I’m so sorry I had to break this news to you today” might be all you need to say at
this point.

Would you like to tell me how you are feeling or what you are thinking?

“I’m so sorry, but at this stage, I don’t have enough information to answer that.
Hopefully in the next few weeks once we’ve completed other tests I can be clearer.
Sorry, I can appreciate that it’s frustrating to be left with unanswered questions’.’ 

 “I can see this is a huge shock for you”

 “I can see that this is not the news that you expected, I’m so sorry”

I just want you to know that there are a lot of treatment options:

BREAST CANCER:: Hormone therapy

Chemotherapy

Radiation

Masectomy

Prostate cancer treatment

 Observation or Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer

 Surgery for Prostate Cancer
 Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer
 Cryotherapy for Prostate Cancer
 Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer
 Chemotherapy for Prostate Cancer
 Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer
 Targeted Therapy for Prostate Cancer
 Treatments for Prostate Cancer Spread to Bones