Nurse Abigail Camenzuli. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

A cancer patient was devastated when she yesterday found out that, as part of her treatment, she would have to take a regular injection in her stomach for the next two years.

Sensitive to what the woman was feeling, 26-year-old nurse Abigail Camenzuli sat her down, explained to her how it would work, then listened.

“I spent time with her. I offered her my support… We spoke a lot… She left the hospital laughing. It made my day,” Ms Camenzuli said, fully aware that the woman might have been overcome by grief again later on in the day.

Ms Camenzuli, a nurse at Boffa Hospital’s day ward, is one of several healthcare professionals attending a course about breaking the bad news to patients and their families. It is being offered to doctors, nurses and healthcare workers who work with cancer patients.

Helen Muscat, who chairs the Action for Breast Cancer foundation, said this was a great initiative as there was a gap that had to be addressed.

“Breaking this news is not a nice thing for anyone, but people who do it need to know how to gauge the patient and realise what they need to know and what they don’t,” she said.

Being a nurse, Ms Muscat had a good idea of what was going on when she was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago – but someone had to tell her. The consultant who did told her in a very sensitive way.

“The news does not always sink in immediately. You’ll be in a state of disbelief. If the news is not broken in the best way it can, the trauma is much greater,” she said.

Sometimes a patient needed someone to sit with them after the news was shared. She added it was important that facilities were in place such as a quiet room and that a team of people were there to support patients after learning the bad news. Ms Camenzuli has learnt that patients appreciate a supportive role.

“It’s not easy. But I find it helps to listen and hold their hand. There’s nothing to say sometimes. It’s about being there,” she said.

Health Minister Joe Cassar said it was important for professionals to know how to handle imparting such news.

Speaking at the start of the course, he said this was “the human side” of the National Cancer Plan 2011- 2015. Research leading to the drawing up of the plan showed there was a lack of training in the field.

Apart from helping patients and their families, by improving communication, the course would also help health care workers feel more confident during these difficult moments.