Diagnosis Disclosure: Patient Preferences and the Role of the Breast Nurse Navigator

Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can be traumatic and anxiety-producing. The way the diagnosis is disclosed to patients can affect their experience.

The aim of this article is to determine patient preferences for being informed of a breast cancer diagnosis and the breast nurse navigator (BNN) role during the diagnostic experience.

A survey was mailed to 517 patients with breast cancer. Summary statistics were performed on 199 completed surveys.

Patients preferred to hear their diagnosis in person. BNNs were more likely to provide the right amount of support and resources compared to other providers. Patients described the following preferences.