Oncology On The Go

S1 Ep180: How To Discuss Death? A Conversation of Mortality in Cancer Care


Listen Later

In the recent episode of Oncology-on-the-Go, in collaboration with the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS), Daniel C. McFarland, DO, welcomes William S. Breitbart, MD, to discuss how clinicians can address patients’ existential concerns. While oncologists often focus on treatment and the drive for life, the core concern for many patients remains mortality. Breitbart’s work in meaning-centered therapy provides a framework for these difficult conversations.

Breitbart emphasizes that patients grappling with fear, uncertainty, and depression may not always express it directly. The goal of meaning-centered therapy is to help patients find a sense of purpose and peace, even as they face a terminal illness. This approach is not about eliminating suffering, but about helping patients find meaning in their experiences. The conversation covers the practical application of these principles, including how to bring up topics of death and dying, and the importance of validating a patient's fears without resorting to platitudes.

The discussion also touches on the concept of “existential guilt,” which Breitbart links to the human awareness of one’s own existence and mortality. He notes that many clinicians are drawn to oncology or psycho-oncology because of their own personal experiences with death and illness. Overall, the episode is a reminder for oncologists and their multidisciplinary team members to look beyond the treatment and its clinical outcomes, and engage in human conversations that can significantly improve a patient’s quality of life, emotional support, and overall well-being.

McFarland is the director of the Psycho-Oncology Program at Wilmot Cancer Center and a medical oncologist who specializes in head, neck, and lung cancer, in addition to being the psycho-oncology editorial advisory board member for the journal ONCOLOGY®; Breitbart is an attending physician and the Jimmie C. Holland Chair in Psycho-Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Oncology On The GoBy CancerNetwork

  • 3.5
  • 3.5
  • 3.5
  • 3.5
  • 3.5

3.5

4 ratings


More shows like Oncology On The Go

View all
Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) Podcast by American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) Podcast

39 Listeners

JAMA Clinical Reviews by JAMA Network

JAMA Clinical Reviews

500 Listeners

ASCO Daily News by American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

ASCO Daily News

58 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,491 Listeners

OncoPharm by John Bossaer

OncoPharm

184 Listeners

The Intelligence from The Economist by The Economist

The Intelligence from The Economist

2,526 Listeners

The Uromigos by The Uromigos

The Uromigos

55 Listeners

The Oncology Podcast by The Oncology Network

The Oncology Podcast

4 Listeners

BioCentury This Week by BioCentury

BioCentury This Week

32 Listeners

Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

Huberman Lab

29,357 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

16,009 Listeners

Biotech Hangout by Daphne Zohar, Josh Schimmer, Brad Loncar, Tim Opler & more

Biotech Hangout

19 Listeners

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart by Comedy Central

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

10,753 Listeners

Two Onc Docs by Sam and Karine

Two Onc Docs

184 Listeners

Oncology Brothers: Practice-Changing Cancer Discussions by Oncology Brothers

Oncology Brothers: Practice-Changing Cancer Discussions

41 Listeners