Centering families in cancer communication research: acknowledging the impact of support, culture and process on client/provider communication in cancer management

Cancer management occurs within a system of relationships. Advancing a context based view of client provider communication, we first posit that family is central to client provider communication in cancer management. This premise is followed by three additional premises that emphasize the importance of culture, disease stage and communication styles, within this family-centered perspective. Supporting research questions are offered for each premise and implications of this approach for client, family, and provider communication and for client outcomes are offered.