One of the best ways to extend medical knowledge to patients and their families is through Programmed Clinical Simulations (PCS). These are stories that reflect the real world and reveal medicine in its multidimensional integrative approach. The plot facilitates the understanding of the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social components in coping with the disease.

The patient is always the protagonist, and the doctor is the one who tells the story. Assuming the role of a supporting actor, the doctor supports the rationality of proposed interventions. PCS represent the best form of cognitive approach to the patient, an essential condition for obtaining informed consent and qualified shared decision-making.

After being informed of the diagnosis, the patient can select the most appropriate story, choosing by the primary location of the tumor or by identification with an anchor human value, specifically used by the protagonist to guide the doctor-patient relationship. The decision centered on the primary tumor refers to a more direct cognitive intervention. The patient learns about the clinical course of the disease, the steps in the diagnostic hypotheses’ formulation, and therapeutic recommendations.

The decision centered on a specific anchor value refers to a subliminal cognitive intervention, strengthening the patient’s mind to adequately cope with the disease. Each patient needs a specific lag time to accept the cancer diagnosis. However, the urgency of oncological recommendations finds in PCS a valuable tool to accelerate understanding of the disease.

Subliminal intervention also helps at turning points. These are very special moments when the patient stops complaining and starts to collaborate with the doctor in problem-solving.