The communication of the oncological diagnosis in patients with intellectual disability

Abstract

Communicating oncological diagnoses to patients with mild intellectual disabilities represents a clinical, social, and ethical challenge, as cognitive and emotional barriers hinder understanding and limit active participation in decision-making. Objective: To analyze the social impact of communicating oncological diagnoses in patients with intellectual disabilities, highlighting its relevance to healthcare equity and the guarantee of health rights. Methodological design: A documentary review and critical analysis of scientific literature, clinical guidelines, public policies, and international experiences published between 2015 and 2025 were conducted. The study followed a qualitative and descriptive approach, using a narrative review design that integrated information around three main axes: clinical communication, health equity, and bioethics. Conclusions: Findings show that inclusive communication is a central challenge in contemporary medical practice. Adapting information into accessible formats improves understanding and reduces anxiety, balancing the bioethical principles of autonomy and beneficence. Health equity requires concrete actions in communication, accessibility, and active participation, which involve professional training, the production of inclusive materials, and public policies that recognize communicative accessibility as a fundamental right. Ultimately, communicating the invisible becomes an act of health justice and recognition of human dignity, essential to ensuring equitable cancer care.