Introduction and aim:
The skills of communication with a patient is of particular importance in the case of oncological diseases, when the doctor is faced with the necessity to provide the patient with unfavourable information, and to cope with the patient‘s emotions that accompany this situation. The aim of this study was to present the selected aspects of communication with an oncological patient and their impact on the quality of the doctor-patient relationship

Brief description of the state of knowledge:
Proper communication at the doctor-patient level can alleviate anxiety and stress associated with the disease and help with its acceptance. Therefore, it is important to be able to show empathy, acceptance, understanding and kindness to the patient which, in turn, is determined by the doctor‘s communication skills. In contact with the patient, it is important to build a friendly atmosphere and to show understanding and acceptance of the patient‘s emotions, which gives the patient a sense of support and security. In the process of communication with an oncological patient, non-verbal communication is of great importance, which becomes particularly important when the patient has the impression that the doctor is not being completely honest. The ability to read verbal and non-verbal communication allows the selection of a method of conducting a dialogue which is adequate to the situation.

Summary:
Satisfactory communication can contribute to the optimisation of the treatment process, reduction of stress and ability to cope better with the disease, while inappropriate communication can negatively affect the patient‘s quality of life.