When cancer is suspected
It is good practice to gently explain to families that a cancer diagnosis is suspected, or needs to be ruled out, before transferring them to a cancer unit. This allows them a chance to prepare themselves before arriving and prevents the shock of realising themselves the speciality to which they have been referred.
I am worried my child has cancer
When a cancer diagnosis is confirmed
When diagnosis is confirmed, the child or young person (CYP) will most often be present in the consultation and age-appropriate language will be used. If they are not present, we encourage and support the family to be open and honest with their child and explain the diagnosis to them as soon as possible, using words such as cancer, leukaemia and chemotherapy from the outset.
Talking to a family after a diagnosis has been made
When meeting a newly diagnosed family for the first time, it is perfectly acceptable to say if it is not an illness you have come across often, if at all. You could ask them to “tell their story”and what or how much the CYP understands.
If there has been recent contact with the patient before diagnosis, it is important to the family to acknowledge this. Some families may present with anger around the process of diagnosis. Try to listen and empathise with the difficulties of their experience: this often allows them to move on and facilitates the continuation of a professional relationship.
Sage and Thyme training, which offers staff a structured approach on how to manage difficult conversations whilst allowing the conversation to be patient-led, is available in some Health boards and Trusts
Links to further reading and guidance on breaking bad news
Last reviewed: February 2026