Why does my loved one not want to talk to me about their incurable illness?

The patient may feel like they aren’t ready to talk about it yet, since talking about an incurable illness and the end of life may give rise to emotions that are too painful. By avoiding talking about the situation, the person with the illness may even feel like they are shielding their loved ones from the grief. Having a confidential discussion requires enough time. You can encourage your loved one to talk, but you can’t force anyone to do so.