Using the patient-centered method to achieve excellence in care for women with breast cancer.

The diagnosis of breast cancer remains one of the most threatening and emotionally debilitating diagnoses given to patients. Breast cancer elicits fears of loss of ability, control, hope, and at worst--loss of life. Patients and their families, devastated by the diagnosis of cancer, often feel unsupported or dismissed by their health care providers. Using the example of breast cancer, this paper describes how the application of the patient-centred clinical method can assist physicians in caring for patients diagnosed with breast cancer. Composite cases and quotes drawn from qualitative research studies with breast cancer patients are used to illustrate the application of the patient-centred clinical method.