The "most-significant-other" in the care of the breast cancer patient.

Most-significant-others can play a major role in helping breast cancer patients live stable, productive, and esteemed lives. Physicians are urged to respect and exercise their clinical judgment on the emotional makeup of the patient, the most-significant-other, and their relationship, and to instruct them according to their needs and capacities. Supportive roles include mobilizing social support; monitoring the patient's return to daily living; being with her during treatments, both physically and emotionally; and understanding her instinctive requests for assistance through double-bind and other difficult communication. Most-significant-others can be an extension of the physician's common sense and clinical care to the degree that they are able and willing to perform this important role.