This was brought to my attention by a woman diagnosed with breast cancer when she was told that her lymph nodes were positive.
Her initial thought was that "positive" was good news. It was only with extended discussion that she realized that the opposite was true. Medical terminology and how information is communicated can be confusing - not just for cancer patients but for anyone who has to waited for a lab or test result.
The responsibility to know and to understand one's results is the patient's responsibility. This may mean scheduling an appointment to discuss your results or having a family member present with you to help you to understand or finding another doctor/health care facility. It's your health. It's your life. Your responsibility.
Author
Sharan Abdul-Rahman, MD