Oncology has been interested in the idea and practice of person-centred care for some time, much like medicine more broadly. Alongside this pursuit has been recognition of the importance of integrating cultural and linguistic diversities (e.g. the importance of cultural awareness), in providing quality care and supporting cancer survivorship. Both these professional projects emphasise the qualities of the person as important for delivering quality cancer care, decision-making and supporting survivorship. But how do these values and practices interplay in everyday oncological practice, if at all? In this talk I draw on the results of a qualitative study, funded by the Australian Research Council, focused on migrants living with cancer in Australia and the health professionals who care for them. I focus here on the idea of complex personhood, to bridge concern for engaging the person with a desire to acknowledge their cultural, ethnic and linguistic biographies. This, I will argue, to be successful, necessarily includes recognition of the complex personhood of clinicians themselves, and how this shapes treatment and care.