TABLE 1.

Example empathic opportunities and responses.

	Example
Patient‐initiated opening n = 147	P: So that is going to be a separate issue altogether? O: Yes. I doubt that it is going to be an issue for you, and I am just basing that on experience. P: I'm just trying to prepare myself, you know, asking the worst questions so this way I am not worrying with it.

Possible responses	Example
Missed opportunity n = 96 (64%)	O: So let's assume that it is okay and so we don't really have to do anything over there, just deal with the left side. P: We can be hopeful. I could use something good. O: So at that point we've done the mastectomy and we've done the reconstruction so the treatment of the breast is done. Now, we're going to totally switch gears now.
Positive response n = 25 (17%)	P: …I think the thing that stresses me and gets me worried and panicked is surgery. I never had surgery. I had my wisdom teeth removed, you know, but that is as far as it went. So that scares me, you know? O: Yeah, and that is very understandable.
Negative response n = 29 (19%)	P: This is a little more complicated than I thought. O: Oh, this is very complicated. This is a complicated – P: I thought that since it is such an early stage, that basically I would have a lumpectomy, and I would not need radiation. O: Right, so whatever your source of information was, it is not correct.

Abbreviations: O, Oncologist; P, Patient.