Shame and Humiliation of Breast Cancer Patients – Communication Pitfalls with Oncology Cases
Shame and Humiliation of Breast Cancer Patients – Communication Pitfalls with Oncology Cases

Summary/Abstract: Effective patient-doctor communication within Romanian healthcare system is one key element that could compensate the lack of resources, often blamed for the great distress patients and their families experience while being in contact with Romanian medical personnel. Oncology is above many other medical specialties in great need of implementation of good, effective patient-doctor communication, to alleviate sufferance and conduct to more effective healthcare. Inadequate communication may cause much distress for patients and their families, who often want considerably more information than is usually provided. Many patients leave consultations unsure about the diagnosis and prognosis, according to Fallowfield, L. and Jenkins, V. (1999). According to Maguire, P. (2002) doctors usually fail in listening to their patients’ complaints and concerns, almost to half of the issues raised. The study reveals that medical personnel stops at obtaining information about patients’ perceptions of their problems, either physical, emotional, or social impact of the above-mentioned problems. The article proposes a short review of a relevant life-history narrative of breast cancer patient, that emphasizes the importance of humane, clear and professional communication to better healthcare, alleviation of sufferance and clearer view on the patient’s health challenges. Based on Eurostat data (updated in September 2017) more than one and a quarter million people died from cancer in the EU-28, just over one quarter (26.0 %) of the total number of deaths. Among the EU Member States, the share of deaths from cancer in the total number of deaths exceeded 30.0 % in Slovenia and the Netherlands. By contrast, 20.0 % of all deaths or less were from cancer in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Romania. Romanian patients witness that better communication in oncology wards would significantly strengthen their morale.

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