Oncologists experience stress and difficulty discussing death with patients

A group of oncologists have revealed in a new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers that communicating about death and dying with their patients is one of the most difficult and stressful parts of their work.
In the United States, 577,190 deaths from cancer occurred in 2012, according to the American Cancer Society.
The paper reported that despite this important element of their work, oncologists receive little training in this area, and many do not communicate well with patients. The research included interviews with doctors about what they found difficult and what they believed they did well.
‘To our knowledge, this is the first qualitative exploration of communication about the end of life from an oncologist