BACKGROUND: The incidence of cancer is rising, so the workload of managing cancer is increasing rapidly. Among the advances in cancer care are advances in coordination of care, with team care being a preferred method. OBJECTIVE: This article examines the role of the general practitioner, by looking at each step in the patient's cancer journey. The current role of the GP and practice staff is examined, as well as potential roles that can be undertaken to maximise the role of general practice in an integrated cancer service. DISCUSSION: A complete rethink of how cancer is managed, in particular defining the roles that must be performed by specialists and those that can be performed in primary care, needs to take place in order to deal with the rising cancer incidence in Australia. General practice must prepare to modify how it works to meet this challenge, in a similar way to confronting the rising tide of other chronic illnesses.
BACKGROUND: The incidence of cancer is rising, so the workload of managing cancer is increasing rapidly. Among the advances in cancer care are advances in coordination of care, with team care being a preferred method. OBJECTIVE: This article examines the role of the general practitioner, by looking at each step in the patient's cancer journey. The current role of the GP and practice staff is examined, as well as potential roles that can be undertaken to maximise the role of general practice in an integrated cancer service. DISCUSSION: A complete rethink of how cancer is managed, in particular defining the roles that must be performed by specialists and those that can be performed in primary care, needs to take place in order to deal with the rising cancer incidence in Australia. General practice must prepare to modify how it works to meet this challenge, in a similar way to confronting the rising tide of other chronic illnesses.
Authors: Nico van Zandwijk; Christopher Clarke; Douglas Henderson; A William Musk; Kwun Fong; Anna Nowak; Robert Loneragan; Brian McCaughan; Michael Boyer; Malcolm Feigen; David Currow; Penelope Schofield; Beth Ivimey Nick Pavlakis; Jocelyn McLean; Henry Marshall; Steven Leong; Victoria Keena; Andrew Penman Journal: J Thorac Dis Date: 2013-12 Impact factor: 2.895
Authors: Martina Kamradt; Ines Baudendistel; Gerda Längst; Marion Kiel; Felicitas Eckrich; Eva Winkler; Joachim Szecsenyi; Dominik Ose Journal: Fam Pract Date: 2015-08-26 Impact factor: 2.267
Authors: Nicole M Rankin; Gemma K Collett; Clare M Brown; Tim J Shaw; Kahren M White; Philip J Beale; Lyndal J Trevena; Cleola Anderiesz; David J Barnes Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2017-12-28 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Audra de Witt; Frances C Cunningham; Ross Bailie; Christina M Bernardes; Veronica Matthews; Brian Arley; Judith A Meiklejohn; Gail Garvey; Jon Adams; Jennifer H Martin; Euan T Walpole; Daniel Williamson; Patricia C Valery Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2017-08-07
Authors: Rebecca L Venchiarutti; Marguerite Tracy; Jonathan R Clark; Carsten E Palme; Jane M Young Journal: Aust J Rural Health Date: 2022-03-11 Impact factor: 2.060