Communication skills

If I were a GP - or a medical professional of any sort, come to that - I might consider the effect my words might have on my patients. Today, I visited my local family doctors' practice to ask for advice about recurrent mouth blisters. While the GP I saw couldn't have been nicer - particularly since I confused the appointment time and arrived an hour late! - she couldn't see anything in my mouth but suggested that I should ask my dentist to review x-rays for the last few years as, "we can't rule out oral cancer"! This was not tremendously helpful, especially given that she knew I'm going for my annual overhaul tomorrow.

Naturally, I rushed to the dentist - whose surgery I pass on the way home. No appointment available for 10 days... I explained the reason for my visit and the receptionist said she'd see what she could do. By the time I'd walked up the hill home, there was a message telling me I could see the dentist 2 hours later if I liked. So, 2 hours later, I rushed down the hill. The dentist looked and pronounced. A mucous cyst. Benign. Referral to consultant to decide whether to let it take its own route or whether to remove it under local anaesthetic. Not cancerous. Not rare.  Absolutely nothing to worry about. 

So, doctors, beware - if you must say to your patients, "we can't rule out x cancer", also make sure you give them an upbeat message as well, particularly if they're cancer survivors!