Questions: A medical assistant is talking with a patient who just learned that she has advanced breast cancer. The patient says, "It's just an infection. I'm way too young to have cancer!" Which of the following actions should the assistant take to help this patient during this stage of grief? Encourage the patient to express sadness. Refer the patient to a support group. Redirect the patient's attention away from angry feelings. Reinforce education about the patient's disease process.

The answer is "Refer the patient to a support group."

While encouraging the patient to express sadness can be helpful, it may not be the most immediate or effective action in this particular stage of grief, which appears to be denial.

Referring the patient to a support group is a constructive action because it provides the patient with a community of individuals who are experiencing similar challenges. This can help the patient feel less isolated and more supported, which is crucial during the initial stages of dealing with a serious diagnosis like advanced breast cancer.

Redirecting the patient's attention away from their feelings might not be helpful at this stage. It is important for the patient to process their emotions rather than avoid them.

While educating the patient about their disease is important, it may not be the most appropriate action at this moment when the patient is in denial. The patient might not be ready to absorb detailed information about their condition.