Wow - what good advice everyone has given. My "words of wisdom" to new docs are fairly simple:
1) Remember that your patient is a human being feeling scared, angry and completely helpless. Treat your patients like they were your husband, wife, mother or father.
2) Don't assume your patients know anything - explain everything in simple terms, with complete explanations. Even if they do know they are so shell shocked they don't remember.

Ginny M. SCC of Left lateral tongue Dx 04/06,Surgery MDACC 05/11/06: Partial glossectomy with selective neck dissection. T1N0M0 - no radiation. Phase III clinical trial ("EPOC" trial)04/07 thru 04/08 because tests showed a 65% chance of recurrence. 10 Year Survivor!