Southlake, TX, Aug.18, 2017 — People who are diagnosed with advanced, incurable forms of cancer may not be receiving the one-on-one communication from their doctors they need to better understand their circumstances. Those are the findings of a recent study that found patient-doctor communication in advanced cancer cases was lacking.

The study in question involved a survey of nearly 200 people who had been diagnosed with advanced forms of cancer. Researchers spoke with patients before and after they saw their oncologists. Only 13 percent of the people in the study group reported having recent and past discussions with their doctors about their prognosis. About 10 percent said they only had recent discussions, but others reported only having talks in the past. Of particular note, nearly 40 percent of patients said they never talked with their doctors about their prognosis despite having an advanced form of the disease.

“Although the study was performed on a small scale, it does speak to the tremendous importance for patients and doctors to have an open line of communication,” says Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon at Southlake Oncology, a Choice Cancer Center. “This is always so, but can be keenly important when incurable cancer is the diagnosis. Patients need to be fully aware of their prognosis so that they may make informed decisions about their care. A full grasp of prognosis is also vital for helping patients begin to make end-of-life decisions.”

People who are diagnosed with cancer, at any stage, are strongly urged to talk openly with their doctors about their prognosis, treatments recommended and any other related issues. An open line of communication is critical for ensuring that patients receive the best care possible. While communication may not be able to improve outcomes, it can help ensure patients are prepared and informed.

“More than 1.7 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year,” says Dr. Echt. “Each one of those patients should be able to talk to their doctors openly and frankly about their diagnosis and outlook.”

About Southlake Oncology
Southlake Oncology, located in the Southlake and Grapevine area is a community-focused oncology practice that delivers exceptional care to North Texas cancer patients with a variety of cancer diagnoses and blood disorders. Like the other Choice Cancer Care facilities, we are an independent treatment center that is physician-owned.