1. How to talk to your
Health Care
Professional
Eileen O‟Donovan
&
Susan O‟Carroll

2. Workshop Today will be :
• A Personal Space with a group agreement
And group Introduction
• A Short Presentation
• Some Group Discussions
• Personal awareness
• Role Play
• A Short Video Clip
• Tips on „How to Talk to your HCP‟

3. Discussions on :
• Who are your Health Care Professionals
( HCP) ?
• what would you like to share in your
experiences of „Talking to your HCP‟ (negative
& Positive)
• What do you want from this workshop ?
• Defining „ your Goals „ when you are talking to
your HCP

4. Living with advanced cancer typically means a lot
of doctor appointments and on going treatment
You need a health care team you can trust

5. Doctor
Patient
/nurse/team
Communicating
your needs

6. Key members of your Health Care Team
• Medical Oncologist
• Radiation Oncologist
• Oncology Nurse e.g. Day ward
• Breast Care Nurse
• Oncology Liasion Nurse
• Social Worker
• GP
• Community Public Health Nurse

7. Communication
Open Communication is the key to
getting your needs met with ease
and is essential to good care and
long term planning

8. “With communication comes
understanding and clarity; with
understanding, fear diminishes; in
the absence of fear, hope emerges;
and in the presence of hope,
anything is possible.”
Ellen Stovall, 3-time cancer survivor
Cancer Community Support
www.cancersupportcommunity.org

9. Communication could be a problem if:
• After many visits you have questions that
went unanswered or were answered poorly
• You never feel you have enough time to say
what is on your mind
• Members of your health care team seem
rushed, distracted or uninterested

10. “ Don’t be afraid to ask a question —there are no
stupid questions and don’t be afraid to get a
second opinion. Don’t let some doctor talk you
out of it. If you feel more comfortable, get
that second opinion and feel comfortable in
the treatment you are receiving rather than
just accepting it. Be a part of your treatment
process.It’s empowering to be proactive’
Penny - Cancer support community
www.cancersupportcommunity.org

11. “ It’s really important to understand the disease
and to educate yourself. It’s a matter of what
this disease is, how it impacts you, and being
able to communicate with your health care
provider.”
Elaine L. Cancer Support Community
www.cancersupportcommunity.org

12. “I hate to take the doctor‟s time to
answer my questions.”
“I‟m so puzzled I don‟t know what to
ask.”
“So many medical terms were used so
quickly that I just went away
confused.”

13. Talking about „your experiences‟
Postives Negatives
Discussion

14. „Choosing to be Patient Active is not a single
monumental decision, but a series of
small,incremental choices that help you regain a
sense of control over your treatment and your
life in general‟

15. Personal Awareness
&
Assertiveness

16. ROLE PLAY

17. „How to talk to your HCP„
Reflection and comments

18. „Your Goals „
Identify „your Goals‟
Disease control
Quality of Life
Prolonging Life
Cure

19. Treatment Decisions
Treatment decisions can change and you must go
with those changes…..
One needs to have a balance
Response to treatment
vs
Quality of Life

20. Tips on Communicating Effectively with your HCP
Improving communication Before A Visit
•Bring questions with you
•Keep notes of issues experienced between visits
and bring notes to remind you
•If you still feel questions and concerns are not
addressed – consider changing doctors!

21. Improving communication During the visit
•Write down the answers to your questions in the doctor‟s
office
•Write down new information from the doctor
•Read your notes back to the doctor
•Ask the doctor to explain anything that is unclear
•If there are changes to your treatment plan , take the time
at this visit/clinic time to fully understand this and request
a follow up call or visit with your Nurse

22. Communication Tips
• Keep a running list of questions to bring to your
appointments
• Ask your doctor what the best way is to get your
questions answered, i.e should you bring your questions
to the appointment , would it be easier to get answers
by email ? Should you schedule a separate appointment
• It might be helpful to choose one person to
communicate your needs
• Know that you deserve to get your questions answered.
So don‟t be shy ,ask again and again until you are
satisfied
• Bring someone along to the appointments
• Take notes , even a mini recorder !

23. Always Always tell your Doctor or nurse if and
when you are experiencing side effects or
symptoms that are making you uncomfortable or
interfering with your activities of daily living

24. Short and medium effects of treatments must be
Communicated to your HCP
They can be managed !
Pain
Nerve damage
Weight gain /loss
Memory &
Fatigue & Sleep
concentration
disturbances

25. Wording questions:
Do not ask leading questions .
A leading question is worded in such a way that
signals the answer you‟re hoping for !
„ I am going to be alright, aren‟t I „
reword to
What do you think is my prognosis ?

26. „Don‟t be afraid to speak your mind or get on
your doctors‟ nerves. Tell them everything
you‟re feeling. Because they can‟t help you if
they don‟t know what‟s wrong. That‟s what
they are there for‟
Laura
Cancer Support community
www.cancersupportcommunity.org

27. Questions ????
Thank you for listening and participating
Eileen & Susan
Cancer Information Services Nurses
Irish Cancer Society National Helpline 1800 200 700

28. Recommended websites:
Cancer Support Community US
www.cancersupportcommunity.org
Living Beyond Breast Cancer
www.lbbc.org/
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
www.canceradvocacy.org