This PDQ cancer information summary provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed information for health professionals about communicating with the cancer patient and his or her family. This summary is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary by the PDQ Supportive and Palliative Care Editorial Board.

Information about the following is included in this summary:

• Unique aspects of communication with cancer patients.
• Factors affecting communication.
• Training in communication skills.

This summary is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians and other health professionals who care for cancer patients during and after cancer treatment. It does not provide formal guidelines or recommendations for making health care decisions. Information in this summary should not be used as a basis for reimbursement determinations.

This summary will soon be available in a patient version, which is written in less technical language, and in Spanish.

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