Post 79: Doctors Can Hide Behind Technical Terms and Ambiguous Words - 4 Tips for Getting Clarity
At least a couple times a year, I sit with a new patient who is undergoing surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy and who turns still...
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Difficult News
Jeanne Lee
Post 70: It's Not Cowardly to Not Want to Know
"I always thought I was brave and a go getter, that I could handle just about anything. But I don't want to know the CT scan results. I...
Jeanne Lee
Post 67: The Difference Between "Potential" and "Likely"
Doctors often provide best case scenarios. The best case is what they are hoping for, and it is what they feel most comfortable relaying...
Jeanne Lee
Post 35: Grieving Loss (and Change) That is About to Come - Six Coping Suggestions
"The doctor said months. What am I supposed to do with months?! I won't get to be a part of my children's stories. I won't get to meet my...
Jeanne Lee
Post 34: Should We Tell Mom About Her Diagnosis? - Two Questions to Consider
"When you go in to talk to him, don't use the 'H' word." "The 'H' word?" I asked as I quickly thought of every profanity in my...
Jeanne Lee
Post 33: Seven Ways to Approach a Person in Denial
(We all experience denial at various points in our lives. Some moments may be short lived - the shock and disbelief in witnessing a...
Jeanne Lee
Post 29: How Do I Talk to My Kids About My Illness? – Seven Pieces of Advice
Sometimes during a palliative care visit (read Post 1: What Exactly Does a Palliative Care Specialist Do?), I am asked, "Do you have...
Jeanne Lee
Post 17: How to Discuss Serious, Difficult, Hard To Hear, Bad News in Six Steps
Are you the designated family member responsible for communicating with your loved one's healthcare providers [read Post 4: Eleven Common...
Jeanne Lee
Post 13: Sometimes It's Denial, and Sometimes It's Just Really Bad Timing
When a person says, "It's all bad news! I turn off the TV so I don't have to listen," others tend to nod their heads in understanding....
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