A nurse who works in an oncologist's office is talking with a patient with cancer who has exhausted all conventional treatments. The patient says she has heard that she can be cured by a healer who uses massage therapy
What is the most helpful response the nurse can give? A) "Let's consult the National Cancer Institute website to find out if there are any risks in this treatment and whether the benefits will outweigh them.".
B) "It won't work, and you will waste your money.".
C) "Massage isn't useful for cancer.".
D) "This will give you something else to think about other than your illness.".
A
Feedback:
The statement in A is honest and demonstrates caring while helping the client to receive the necessary information. Although massage for cancer would not cure the disease, it may make the patient comfortable and feel some hope. It may also offer encouragement to know that something is being attempted. Patients should be cautioned, however, not to invest in a therapy that may be ineffective and not covered by medical insurance. The NCI and NCCAM web sites offer assistance to patients for evaluating claims.
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