“…As in the case of behavioural style there is a skill involved, one which some might have by nature but which others have to acquire, and this comprises the ability to deal with another's problems without identifying with them. Perhaps the best time for doing this will be during training, and there are some courses designed to help students to come to terms with the problems of the cancer patient and with the difficulties that they themselves will experience in treating her (Cassileth and Egan, 1979;Poole and Sansori-Fisher, 1979). Once qualified, however, a surgeon is likely to get little support or guidance in this respect from his colleagues, since this is another problem which is not talked about.…”