Dr. Ong
Good afternoon, Mrs. Lee. Thank you for coming in today. Is your husband able to join us, or would you prefer to speak alone first?
Mrs. Lee
He's waiting outside. I wanted to hear first what the scan results show before we talk together.
Dr. Ong
Of course. Before I share the results, could you tell me what you already know about your condition? What have the doctors told you so far?
Mrs. Lee
I know I had the lung operation three months ago and they said they got the cancer out. Then I had the chemotherapy. I was hoping this scan would show everything is clear.
Dr. Ong
Thank you for sharing that with me. I can see this has been a long and difficult journey for you. Would it be alright if I share the scan results with you now?
Mrs. Lee
Yes, please go ahead, Doctor.
Dr. Ong
I'm afraid the results are not what we were hoping for. The CT scan shows that the cancer has returned. There are new spots in the liver and some in the bones. I'm very sorry to have to tell you this.
Mrs. Lee
[Long pause] ...The cancer is back? But... I did everything they asked. All the chemo... How can it come back?
Dr. Ong
I understand this is very shocking news. You did absolutely everything right. Unfortunately, sometimes cancer cells can survive despite treatment and spread to other parts of the body. This is not your fault in any way.
Mrs. Lee
[Crying] What does this mean? Am I... is there still a chance to cure it?
Dr. Ong
I want to be honest with you because you deserve to know the truth. At this stage, with the cancer having spread to the liver and bones, a cure is very unlikely. However, there are still treatments available that can help control the disease, manage your symptoms, and maintain your quality of life for as long as possible.
Mrs. Lee
How long... how long do I have?
Dr. Ong
It's difficult to give an exact timeframe, and every patient is different. Based on similar cases, we're looking at a period of months rather than years. But I want you to know that our whole team — oncology, palliative care, nursing — we are all here to support you and your family through this.
Dr. Ong
Would you like to take a moment? I know this is a lot to take in. We can bring your husband in whenever you're ready, and we don't have to make any decisions today.