Communicating
Communicating effectively with virtually everyone in your life is crucial to increasing the chances of getting your needs met. You may need to communicate not only with your healthcare team but also with family members, friends and co-workers. The Cancer Survival Toolbox® emphasizes the following when talking about your treatment and care:
- Assert yourself or state positively what you want and need
- Make "I" statements by saying "I think" or "I feel" instead of saying "You should"
- Listen actively and check the message. This means listening carefully, showing the other person you are listening, and checking to see if what you heard is what the person meant to say
- Match verbal with nonverbal communication – that is, match your words to your actions and facial expressions
- Express your feelings by letting others know how you feel as well as what you think.
Brush up on your skills by listening to the Cancer Survival Toolbox module on Communicating.
Do you have examples of these techniques being useful to you?
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