If you have breast cancer, chances are you'll find out over the phone

Press/Media: Research

Description

A majority of women who have breast cancer received their diagnoses over the phone, according to a new study released Tuesday from the MU School of Medicine.

Researchers surveyed 2,896 breast cancer patients nationwide who were diagnosed between 1967 and 2017. Before 2007, about 25 percent of patients learned of their diagnoses over the phone. After 2015, that number grew to nearly 60 percent.

PeriodSep 12 2018 → Oct 18 2018

Media contributions

3

Media contributions

  • TitleMore cancer patients getting bad news over the phone
    Degree of recognitionRegional
    Media name/outletWPXI News
    Media typeTelevision
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    Date10/18/18
    DescriptionVideo clip
    Producer/AuthorWPXI News
    URLhttps://www.wpxi.com/news/more-cancer-patients-getting-bad-news-over-of-the-phone/848931218
    PersonsMaria T Brown
  • TitleMany Women Being Told of Breast Cancer in Phone Chat with Doctor, Study Finds
    Degree of recognitionNational
    Media name/outletBreast Cancer News
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    Date10/18/18
    DescriptionFor more than a decade now, women were more likely to learn they had breast cancer in a telephone conversation with a doctor rather than an office visit, research from the University of Missouri (MU) School of Medicine found.

    The trend favoring a cancer diagnosis delivered by phone dates to mid-2000s, and is evident both in the United States and elsewhere, the study reported. But despite being increasingly common, especially for non-advanced cancers, “little attention” has been paid “to the mode of communicating bad news to patients,” its authors said.

    “When we analyzed the data, I was completely surprised to find such a clear trend,” Jane McElroy, PhD, professor of family and community medicine at the MU School of Medicine and the lead study author, said in a news release. “Historically, physicians have decided to use their best judgment when delivering a diagnosis, whether it’s in person or over the phone.”

    The study, “Breaking Bad News of a Breast Cancer Diagnosis over the Telephone: An Emerging Trend,” was published in Supportive Care in Cancer.
    Producer/AuthorCatarina Silva
    URLhttps://breastcancer-news.com/2018/10/01/many-women-learn-breast-cancer-diagnosis-via-phone-call-study-finds/
    PersonsMaria T Brown
  • TitleIf you have breast cancer, chances are you'll find out over the phone
    Degree of recognitionRegional
    Media name/outletMissourian
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    Date9/12/18
    Descriptionhttps://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/if-you-have-breast-cancer-chances-are-you-ll-find/article_6765b420-b6b8-11e8-9e6b-237edacee2e5.html
    Producer/AuthorClaire Colby
    URLhttps://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/if-you-have-breast-cancer-chances-are-you-ll-find/article_6765b420-b6b8-11e8-9e6b-237edacee2e5.html
    PersonsMaria T Brown