Which action would be the least helpful for a patient newly diagnosed with cancer?

Which action would be the least helpful for a patient newly diagnosed with cancer?

• A. Go away for a few days to forget about the situation.
• B. Talk to family and friends about negative feelings.
• C. Seek information about the cancer and treatment options.
• D. Wait to see what the oncologist recommends for treatment.

Answer: (A)

When someone is newly diagnosed with cancer, active coping and engagement with care are most helpful. Patients benefit from talking through feelings, leaning on support networks, and gathering information about the disease and treatment options to participate in decisions about care. Going away for a few days to forget about the situation is the least helpful because it involves avoidance. This delay in facing the diagnosis can prevent the patient from processing emotions, leveraging social support, and gathering information needed to make informed choices. It can also postpone important treatment planning and decision-making. Talking with family and friends about negative feelings provides emotional support and helps reduce isolation, which supports better adjustment. Seeking information about the cancer and treatment options empowers the patient, reduces fear of the unknown, and facilitates active participation in care. Waiting to see what the oncologist recommends can be part of the process, but it’s more effective when paired with proactive information-seeking and engagement with the care team rather than avoiding the reality of the situation.

When someone is newly diagnosed with cancer, active coping and engagement with care are most helpful. Patients benefit from talking through feelings, leaning on support networks, and gathering information about the disease and treatment options to participate in decisions about care.

Going away for a few days to forget about the situation is the least helpful because it involves avoidance. This delay in facing the diagnosis can prevent the patient from processing emotions, leveraging social support, and gathering information needed to make informed choices. It can also postpone important treatment planning and decision-making.

Talking with family and friends about negative feelings provides emotional support and helps reduce isolation, which supports better adjustment. Seeking information about the cancer and treatment options empowers the patient, reduces fear of the unknown, and facilitates active participation in care. Waiting to see what the oncologist recommends can be part of the process, but it’s more effective when paired with proactive information-seeking and engagement with the care team rather than avoiding the reality of the situation.