[Disclosure of a diagnosis of cancer: paradoxes and misunderstandings].

INTRODUCTION: Announcing to a patient that he has cancer is a key moment both in the relationship between this patient and his doctor and in the setting up of quality communications. However, the quality of this communication is often impaired by the presence of paradoxes and misunderstandings. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: The particularities of cancer, the defense mechanisms of the different contributors and cancer representations can increase the sources of misunderstandings, which will leave an indelible mark on the patient at the beginning of the disease. FUTURE AND PROJECTS: What's at stake in that type of announcement in terms of compliance should not be neglected. Practitioners becoming aware of those phenomena and communication rules should improve the modes of announcement.