Almost half of the patients with cancer (46.5%) do not express their doubts during medical consultations. The reason? There are several reasons, but especially fear of what they face, the tremendous mental block that comes with hearing the diagnosis of cancer, and even distrust or shame. This is revealed by the results of a social study called In Cancer, No Doubt Is Silly. This study has been carried out by Lilly in collaboration with the Spanish Association of People Affected by Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia (AEAL), the Spanish Thyroid Cancer Association (AECAT), the Spanish Metastatic Breast Cancer Association (AECMM), the Spanish Federation of Breast Cancer (FECMA), the Spanish Group of Patients with Cancer (GEPAC), the Spanish Society of Hematology and Hemotherapy (SEHH) and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM); and which has had the support of the influencer Emi Huelva (@emihupa), a social media personality committed to cancer, who continues the legacy of her sister Elena Huelva. After this study, several guides have also been published with the basic and more general questions that Many cancer patients often suffer from this, especially for various types of cancer.
The study is part of the awareness-raising initiative of the same name, In Cancer, No Doubt Is Stupid, which can be accessed through www.encancerningunadudaestonta.com and www.lilly.es.
It is worth noting that the study is part of the awareness-raising initiative of the same name, In Cancer, No Doubt Is Stupid, which can be accessed through www.encancerningunadudaestonta.com and www.lilly.es.
This project aims to promote doctor-patient dialogue and break down communication barriers to help resolve doubts during medical consultations, even those that may seem less relevant, with the aim of a better quality of life. Because according to patients and healthcare professionals, “if resolving doubts in general health is important, it is even more so in the case of an oncological pathology.”
“These questions that are silenced among patients highlight the need for patients to have support materials to break the blockage and improve communication with their haematologist. For this reason, lymphoma patients in Spain already have the first Guide to Questions on Lymphomas, from Lilly, with more than 200 real questions from patients and haematologists to encourage other patients to consult on topics such as sexual health, social and family conciliation, or aspects related to the impact of the diagnosis”. It is also worth noting that the number of cancers diagnosed in the national state in 2024 is estimated to reach 286,664 cases.
Doubts and blockages
What are the reasons why cancer patients avoid expressing their doubts to health professionals? According to the results of the study, blockage (46.1%), fear (36.4%), forgetfulness (35.9%), shame (23.3%) and mistrust (19.9%) are the main reasons why they do not express their questions to the medical professional. Data that highlights the need to empower and provide tools to the patients to help them navigate the path and overcome these barriers.
Blockage (46.1%), fear (36.4%), forgetfulness (35.9%), shame (23.3%) and mistrust (19.9%) are the main reasons why they do not express their questions to the medical professional.
“The path that each cancer patient follows from the moment the disease is suspected varies greatly and does not always follow the same order. For example, there are patients who start in the metastatic phase and others who, even if diagnosed early, later face a possible relapse.
Some of these moments generate more doubts than others. For 79.9% of patients, the moment of diagnosis is the moment of greatest uncertainty, representing a situation of high emotional impact, closely followed by the moment of possible relapses. (76.3%), symptom control (66.7%), the follow-up and review period (58.6%) and when the treatments they should follow are explained to them (51.6%)”, explain this team of researchers.
Different evaluations
“A cancer diagnosis is always complex and paralysing. Patients receive a lot of information that is difficult to process during the first consultation, when doubts arise that sometimes we do not resolve for different reasons. The same happens during the follow-up of the disease,” says Begoña Barragán, President of the Spanish Group of Patients with Cancer (GEPAC) and the Spanish Association of People Affected by Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukaemia (AEAL).
“It is important to recognize that asking questions and Having reliable information about cancer and its treatment can be essential to making informed decisions and actively participating in health care,” he adds.
“A cancer diagnosis has a significant impact on anyone’s life”
“A cancer diagnosis has a significant impact on anyone’s life, which is why it is one of the moments of greatest uncertainty. For this same reason, a relapse also represents a moment of great uncertainty, since it is as if you were diagnosed again,” says Pilar Fernández, president of the Spanish Association of Metastatic Breast Cancer (AECMM). As Paula González, representative of the Spanish Federation of Breast Cancer, points out (FECMA): “Moments of uncertainty not only affect patients, but also directly impact our family and social environment, especially at the time of diagnosis. The blockage is often shared.”
