Exploratory Response Video Transcript

Interpersonal Communication And Relationship Enhancement (I*CARE)
Crossroads
Exploratory Response
Time: 2:35

Mrs. Simpson:
It's come back? Are you sure?

Doctor:
Why don't you tell me what's going through your mind right now?

Mrs. Simpson:
Well I mean this is exactly what happened to my grandmother.

Doctor:
Tell me a bit more about your grandmother?

Mrs. Simpson:
Well she died from breast cancer. And when the recurrence started she was in a tremendous amount of pain. And it went on and on and on.

Doctor:
So the pain and your grandmother's experience, it must have made you...

[ Music ]

Mrs. Simpson:
Are you telling me that in this day and age, you can't cure this?

Doctor:
Why don't you tell me just what's going through your mind right now?

Mrs. Simpson:
Going through my mind right now? It's pretty obvious, isn't it? I'm worried that I'm going to go down the same road as my grandmother.

Doctor:
Well I wish I could guarantee that we could cure the situation. That's not possible. But obviously I don't know exactly how your grandmother was treated. But even in the last few years, there are very many options that simply weren't available even back then. I know that's not a great deal but it's something.

Mrs. Simpson:
I know it's something, but even that something doesn't sound so good right now.

Doctor:
Why don't you tell me a little bit more about your concerns and what you're really worried about?

Mrs. Simpson:
I'm scared of the pain.

[ Music ]

Mrs. Simpson:
It just wasn't worth going through all that chemo and hormone treatment in the first place now was it?

Doctor:
Why don't you tell me more about that?

Mrs. Simpson:
Well...

Doctor:
Yeah?

Mrs. Simpson:
...it just feels so hopeless.

Doctor:
Hopeless?

Mrs. Simpson:
Yes, I mean I thought I had a reasonable chance that it wouldn't come back at all or maybe after a longer time.

Doctor:
You sound as if you're running really low on hope.

[ Music ]

Mrs. Simpson:
In fact what really upsets me is that he said that it was a muscle strain, a muscle strain and its cancer. You know what? I should sue him.

Doctor:
Sue him? I mean just tell me a bit more about that.

Mrs. Simpson:
I can't think of anything but Dr. Stone saying it's a muscle strain and looking all smug and confident and just brushing me off.

Doctor:
It sounds to me as if...

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