Mel George (right) tells Sally Foster (left) that she has severe breast cancer as part of the interactive theater, done by the MU Breast Cancer Project. (Photo by Emily Kaiser)

Whether you’re giving or getting bad news, knowing how to communicate is vital. This is most important when a doctor must tell a woman that she has breast cancer. The shocked patient must ask questions about what’s ahead. The doctor has to provide important information while still addressing the patient’s fears and confusion. There is no more important communication, but learning how to have this kind of dialogue isn’t easy. That’s where the University of Missouri’s Breast Cancer Dialogues, an interactive theater program, steps up.

This collaboration between University of Missouri Extension’s Community Arts Program, MU’s Family and Community Medicine department and MU’s Theater department gives both health providers and patients the opportunity to discuss what works, what doesn’t work and how to improve this very important communication.

Breast Cancer Dialogues