When you/your friend/family member was diagnosed with cancer, how were they told?

The answer to this question depends on what country you live in. Every country has different social norms and some nations have legal requirements surrounding patient communications.

If you live in the United States, then your doctor may try to deliver any negative news in-person to the patient, but will tell you over the phone if you ask him to. In Japan, doctors typically contact a patient's immediate family with any negative news, and the family tells the patient. Every culture has its own way of doing things.

In the case of a cancer diagnosis, there is so much testing and imaging that takes place beforehand, the patient often has some idea where matters are headed before a final diagnosis is delivered.

Best wishes.

They should call you into the office to do it, but not all doctor's have good bed side manners. I was called on the phone and told that my mri showed a mass (tumor) on my brain and I needed to go to the er immediately. Actually finding out that I had cancer I found out in an office visit post brain surgery and biopsy. From there, we went through treatment options and what would happen from there on out.

I was told over the phone that I had cancer, and that it was inoperable and terminal, plus told me I had less than a year to live. I don't think its right that a person is told over the phone.. too much of a shock, especially when home alone. A patient should be taken into the dr's office so explanations and answers can be given, such as choice of treatments and/or surgery.

Hoping it won't come to that for you.

I was told at a follow up visit. I have mris every 2 months and a week after scan, I go for a follow up visit to go over the results.

I was expecting to be told I had a cyst and told to ring for results.

The day I was to ring, I received a call from the receptionist as soon as they opened, asking that i come in for an urgent consultation.

I was told at that consultation that it was cancer, but knew as soon as I was told to come in urgently.

My mother was told at the hospital.