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StephN · 01-21-2014, 11:49 PM

Hi Sarah -
I think this is a great idea!

Not being sure of the exact definition of "active listening" I will toss out a couple of ideas.

First is to LOOK at the person's face and try to discern their emotions. often people will try to make less of what they are feeling - not wanting to give too much of themselves away. A little "crust" to crack so you can get at what really needs to be said or understood.

On the other hand you have the sort of person who has their "heart on their sleeve." Once they begin to talk you may never get a word in edgewise. They go all over the place, and hard as you try they may not stay on track.

Listening to cancer patients may be different from listening to other types of problems. This is LIFE THREATENING. And comes with a steep learning curve that can be very difficult to navigate.

Good luck!

01-21-2014, 11:49 PM	#4
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: active listening training Hi Sarah - I think this is a great idea! Not being sure of the exact definition of "active listening" I will toss out a couple of ideas. First is to LOOK at the person's face and try to discern their emotions. often people will try to make less of what they are feeling - not wanting to give too much of themselves away. A little "crust" to crack so you can get at what really needs to be said or understood. On the other hand you have the sort of person who has their "heart on their sleeve." Once they begin to talk you may never get a word in edgewise. They go all over the place, and hard as you try they may not stay on track. Listening to cancer patients may be different from listening to other types of problems. This is LIFE THREATENING. And comes with a steep learning curve that can be very difficult to navigate. Good luck! __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.