Breaking bad news — new cancer diagnosis
PLAB 2 & PRES 3 · communication · hard · 10 minutes
Candidate brief
Mr Ahmed, 64, had an endoscopy last week for weight loss and dysphagia. Histology confirms oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Please share the results using the SPIKES framework. Do not discuss detailed treatment.
What examiners look for
Avoid jargon ('malignancy' → 'cancer'). Pause after warning shot. Check understanding. Offer to have family present for next meeting.
Guideline references
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