Open AccessWhen Hope Is All There Is Left
Author(s) -
Laarhoven Hanneke W.M.,
Leget Carlo J.W.,
Graaf Winette T.A.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the oncologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.176
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1549-490X
pISSN - 1083-7159
DOI - 10.1634/theoncologist.2010-0064
Subject(s) - medicine , supporter , witness , active listening , disease , family medicine , psychotherapist , psychology , archaeology , computer science , history , programming language
One particular patient who was facing the fact that she would die from cancer reveals an important lesson for the oncologist about listening and caring. Medical oncologists have a role beyond offering new treatments to patients with incurable disease: the role of supporter, and of witness, supporting a patient, especially in the last stages of illness, when hope is all there is left.