Lesson 8.5 — Mock 5: Menopause Treatment and Breast-Cancer Fear
Candidate Page
A 51-year-old with troublesome menopausal symptoms wants to discuss treatment options.
Consult naturally. Do not try to force every communication skill into the case. Identify the patient’s agenda and use it to shape the consultation.
Role-Player Brief
Your aunt had breast cancer. You are interested in symptom relief but frightened of HRT. Hot flushes are affecting sleep and work.
If the candidate explores well
- If asked priorities, say sleep and functioning at work matter most.
- If information is balanced and individualised, ask what the doctor recommends.
If the candidate misses the cue
- If candidate launches into statistics, say “I don’t really understand what those numbers mean for me.”
- If the family experience is ignored, ask “But could HRT cause cancer?”
- Explore the meaning of family experience.
- Use plain risk communication.
- Connect options to symptom priorities.
- Share decision-making without dumping the choice.
The strongest response combines clinical ownership with respect for the patient’s risk tolerance.
| Reflection | Yes / Partly / No | Evidence from the consultation |
|---|---|---|
| I found the real agenda. | ||
| I responded to the key cue. | ||
| My explanation used patient-specific information. | ||
| The plan was shared and clinically owned. | ||
| My safety-net was specific. | ||
| I sounded natural rather than scripted. |