Things left unsaid: important topics that are not discussed between patients with systemic sclerosis, their carers and their healthcare professionals-a discourse analysis.

• Key topics in SSc or SSc-ILD, such as mortality and prognosis, are rarely openly discussed in clinical consultations. • By communicating difficult but important topics, physicians and nurses could help patients manage their disease and plan their lives. • A multi-professional team-based communication approach is likely to better address patient needs and priorities and could be easily implemented without the need for significant additional resources.