Breaking bad news — a new cancer diagnosis

Your brief

Mr Whitfield, 64, had a CT scan last week for weight loss and abdominal pain. It shows a pancreatic mass with liver metastases. He has come for the result, alone. The MDT has not yet met. Explain the result to him.

The patient answers what you ask and volunteers nothing you do not. If they start to ramble you can cut them off, as you would in the room.