[The process of patient education of cancer patients at a surgical clinic].

In order to clarify the controversial issue of informing cancer patients of their condition, the following questionnaire was administered to 41 patients with cancer, and 106 patients with other conditions. The questions were: How often and in what form will cancer patients be informed about the nature of their illness? What types of reactions followed? How often did hopelessness and suicidal phantasies arise? What type of support system was the most helpful? The result showed that 90% of all patients wanted to be informed; 85% of the patients with cancer reacted with great anxiety: an increased loss of hope and risk of suicide was not encountered; the most important support system is the family and the patient's trust in the doctor.