• Dr Shwetha Rasquinha

The status of cancer revealed to the patient and family can result in vast number of intense emotions. When medical personnel reveal the news of possibly fatal disease to a family member it may be most upsetting and traumatic experience in a person’s life; especially when the patient is a spouse, child, parent, sibling etc. This paper aims to find from a sample population about their initial reaction to the diagnosis of cancer of their loved one. In some in cases cancer can be fatal and in most cases the treatment is long term. This can have great impact on not only patient but also on their primary caretaker. There is a need to protect caretakers from psychological distress caused by disclosure of diagnosis. A total of 120 caretakers of cancer patients were interviewed to know their first reaction to diagnosis and the medical personnel who revealed the diagnosis. Substantial portion of the respondents said that the diagnosis was revealed by the doctor wherein the possibility of doctor and caretaker engaging in discussion about diagnosis and care could be limited and managing their psychological reaction could be a greater matter of concern. The findings call for need for a good team work between the doctor and trained Medical Social Worker in order to improve the informational and emotional care at the time of revealing the diagnosis.

cancer, diagnosis, disclosure, medical social worker

"Immediate Psychological Reaction to the diagnosis of terminal illness – A study on caretakers of persons living with cancer", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.9, Issue 2, page no.a92-a98, February-2022, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2202011.pdf

"Immediate Psychological Reaction to the diagnosis of terminal illness – A study on caretakers of persons living with cancer", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.9, Issue 2, page no. ppa92-a98, February-2022, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2202011.pdf