eMJA: Timely cancer diagnosis and management as a chronic condition: opportunities for primary care

Chronic Disease — for Debate

Timely cancer diagnosis and management as a chronic condition: opportunities for primary care

Moyez Jiwa, Christobel M Saunders, Sandra C Thompson, Lorna K Rosenwax, Scott Sargant, Eric L Khong, Georgia K B Halkett, Gloria Sutherland, Hooi C Ee, Tanya L Packer, Gareth Merriman and Hayley R Arnet

MJA 2008; 189 (2): 78-82

Introduction

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Cancer as a chronic condition in Australia: current limitations to care of cancer patients

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Strategies for early diagnosis need to be refined

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Care is hampered by lack of continuity and coordination

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Supportive care is fragmented or missing

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Minority groups are not served well

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Strategies for overcoming current limitations to care of cancer patients

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Improving strategies for case-finding in general practice and beyond

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A formal focus on multidisciplinary cancer care in the community

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Reform of funding for cancer in primary care

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Harnessing effective information technology

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One way forward: integrated primary care hubs for cancer care

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Acknowledgements

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Competing interests

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Author details

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References

Abstract

One in three men and one in four women in Australia will be diagnosed with cancer in the first 75 years of life.
The majority will survive the cancer and ultimately die from unrelated causes.
Many cancer patients and their families will experience some physical, social, economic and psychological sequelae, regardless of the prognosis.
A recurring theme is that patients are disadvantaged by the lack of coordination of care and their needs are not being adequately met.
We argue that greater integration of care through a multidisciplinary team of professionals, peer support groups and primary health practitioners functioning within a care hub could offer better practical and psychosocial supportive care for patients and their families.

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