Why Do We Need Cancer Etiquette

Etiquette is commonly defined as a set of rules that regulate the behavior of a certain community in a variety of social settings. A particularly important part of them is speech formulae which enable people to efficiently maintain social contact sparing them the need to search for the right words and protecting them from gross communicative mistakes. Etiquette becomes especially important in situations that require tactfulness. Among them is communication with seriously sick people, in which a word ill-chosen may provoke a deep and lasting psychological crisis. One of the gravest diseases is cancer which does not only remain largely incurable but is commonly associated with extreme morbidity serving as a cultural symbol of catastrophe. Cancer is one of the most profound challenges a person may face in their life. It tortures the flesh and torments the soul, calling for a major revision of the meanings that once seemed immutable. This meaning-making is an extremely complex and delicate process, any interference with which may lead to the collapse of a hard-won balance. Correct communication with cancer patients must rest upon the principles of respect for their psychosocial needs. That necessitates the creation and promotion of a special cancer etiquette which would regulate interaction between the afflicted and their social circle. The paper presents a vision of cancer as a physical, emotional and spiritual crisis, reveals the main issues that impede comfortable communication about it and proposes a number of general etiquette rules which can help consider the psycho-emotional needs of cancer patients and avoid communication gaffes

Cancer · Etiquette · Psychosocial · Empathy and Medical Education · Patient Dignity and Privacy · Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare