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Should oncologists be responsible for monitoring post-treatment follow-up in cancer patients?
Affiliations- Department of Clinical Oncology, Tadeusz Koszarowski Regional Oncology Center, Opole, Poland, Poland
- Department of Oncology, Jagiellonian University Hospital, Kraków, Poland, Poland
open access
Abstract
With increasing cancer rates, a steady rise is also observed in the numbers of such patients being followed-up after their treatment. This aspect of healthcare embraces cancer patients recovering from radical treatment, post-palliative treatment and frequently those patients who have exhausted the possibilities of specialist treatment. Controversies are ever ongoing about who should be responsible for monitoring post-treatment follow-up. Bearing in mind the limited numbers of specialists in clinical oncology, radiotherapy and cancer surgery, relative to GP specialists, the roles of GPs should be more boldly and clearly defined regarding the delivery of healthcare to cancer patients. Developing proficient ‘healthcare models’ based on collaboration between oncologists and GPs is thereby required. This article presents the arguments for justifying such a solution.
Abstract
With increasing cancer rates, a steady rise is also observed in the numbers of such patients being followed-up after their treatment. This aspect of healthcare embraces cancer patients recovering from radical treatment, post-palliative treatment and frequently those patients who have exhausted the possibilities of specialist treatment. Controversies are ever ongoing about who should be responsible for monitoring post-treatment follow-up. Bearing in mind the limited numbers of specialists in clinical oncology, radiotherapy and cancer surgery, relative to GP specialists, the roles of GPs should be more boldly and clearly defined regarding the delivery of healthcare to cancer patients. Developing proficient ‘healthcare models’ based on collaboration between oncologists and GPs is thereby required. This article presents the arguments for justifying such a solution.
Keywords
post-cancer-treatment monitoring, follow-up, recovering patients, coordinated oncology healthcare, General Practitioners
About this articleTitle
Should oncologists be responsible for monitoring post-treatment follow-up in cancer patients?
Journal
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology
Issue
Article type
Other materials agreed with the Editors
Pages
490-493
Published online
2017-06-12
Page views
2169
Article views/downloads
850
DOI
Bibliographic record
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2016;66(6):490-493.
Keywords
post-cancer-treatment monitoring
follow-up
recovering patients
coordinated oncology healthcare
General Practitioners
Authors
Barbara Radecka
Joanna Streb