When tasked with delivering a life-changing diagnosis, it’s refreshing to hear that there are more doctors than not who understand the importance of how to share turning point news.
If you have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), you may vividly remember every detail of the exact moment you were told you have this rare progressive disease.
Hopefully, your doctor can be similarly characterized as the doctors tallied in a recent survey where, “9 out of 10 patients were happy with the way their doctor informed them of their diagnosis.”
I, for one, have to give a doctor both kudos and credit for gracefully and humanely “breaking bad news” to a person with IPF.
With IPF treatment prospects seemingly bleak, would most physicians considered it inhumane and damaging to the patient to disclose the bad news about the diagnosis? With certainty, I would want to hear the truth, but I definitely don’t have it in me to deliver the truth.
And right now, explaining an IPF diagnosis would be more like spiraling “down the rabbit hole” of detailing the progression of the disease, failure of treatment to affect disease progression, and/or the presence of irreversible side effects.
Redirecting my thoughts of what I couldn’t say (I’m more in the mood for positive thinking)… I’d like to spin my ideas here and share what I could say to a friend or loved one who is living with IPF.
You’re not alone if you don’t know what to say to someone who has IPF.
You might not know the person very well, or you may have a close relationship. The most important thing you can do is mention the situation in some way that feels comfortable for you and shows your compassion for them.
You can show interest and concern, you can express encouragement, and/or you can offer support.
Sometimes the simplest expressions of concern are the most meaningful. And sometimes just listening is the most helpful thing you can do.
Respond from your heart! The most genuine response is probably the best response.
