Breaking Bad News: A Primer for Radiologists in Breast Imaging

The task of breaking bad news, whether news of need for biopsy or a new breast cancer diagnosis, is increasingly performed by breast imaging radiologists. Most radiologists have little exposure to didactic teaching or modeling for learning methods of breaking bad news. Understanding barriers for communicating bad news and general improvements in communication, such as avoiding jargon and active listening, are initial steps in learning this important task. Bad news should be communicated to a patient in a supportive environment and directly in simple, but not blunt, terms. The amount of news delivered at any one time must be judged by a patient’s response. It may be preferable to deliver bad news in smaller portions to allow time for a patient to cope. The use of a “warning shot,” particularly at the time of diagnostic imaging, can be helpful to alert patients to forthcoming bad news. Common patient responses to bad news include shock, disbelief, denial, fear, anger, and guilt. An empathetic response from a physician demonstrates support. In breast imaging, providing a patient with perspective about her risk for breast cancer or the characteristics of the cancer if early may instill hope without giving false reassurance. Establishing a plan, typically an appointment with a breast surgeon in the setting of breast cancer, allows a patient to have a sense of control over her disease. Offering additional support also demonstrates empathy. The task of delivering bad news is an important task that, if done well, improves patients’ ability to cope with their disease.

Key Words: Bad news, patient communication, breast imaging, breast cancer, mammography