How communication and shared decision-making can support patient-centred cancer care

This session brings together two speakers exploring how communication and shared decision-making can support patient-centred cancer care. Jonathan Abelson will discuss Shared Decision-Making in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: What Patients Want, What Surgeons Want, and the Role of a Patient Decision Aid When Deciding Between Surgery and Watch-and-Wait. His presentation will examine the perspectives of patients and surgeons in complex treatment decisions and consider how decision aids can support informed, preference-sensitive choices. Yan Ge (Laura), Research Fellow at the Lien Centre for Palliative Care, Duke-NUS Medical School, will present on the Communication and Care Coordinator (CCC) Model in Facilitating Serious Illness Communication and Care in Patients with Cancer. The presentation will explore how a structured coordination model can facilitate serious illness communication and better integrate these conversations into cancer care. Together, the two talks will highlight practical approaches to improving communication, supporting patient preferences, and facilitating shared decision-making across the cancer care continuum.