The role of general practice in cancer care

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.