2.4.2 Communication with patients, carers and families
The general practitioner is responsible for: providing patients with information that clearly describes to whom they are being referred, the reason for referral and the expected timeframes for appointments requesting that patients notify them if the specialist has not been in contact within the expected timeframe considering referral options for patients living rurally or remotely…
Read More4.2.3 Systemic therapy
Some patients may benefit from systemic therapy: those at high risk of relapse and who may benefit from adjuvant therapy those with locally advanced (high-risk) rectal cancer, treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy those with non-resectable, locally advanced or metastatic disease. Timeframes for starting treatment Neoadjuvant chemotherapy should begin within three weeks of the MDM. Adjuvant…
Read More5.4.2 Rehabilitation and recovery
Rehabilitation may be required at any point of the care pathway from the pre-treatment phase through to disease-free survival and palliative care (Cormie et al. 2017). Issues that may need to be dealt with include managing cancer-related fatigue, coping with cognitive changes, improving physical endurance, achieving independence in daily tasks, returning to study or work…
Read More4.5.4 Communication with the general practitioner
The general practitioner plays an important role in coordinating care for patients, including helping to manage side effects and other comorbidities, and offering support when patients have questions or worries. For most patients, simultaneous care provided by their general practitioner is very important. The lead clinician, in discussion with the patient’s general practitioner, should consider…
Read More5.4.3 Communication with patients, carers and families
The lead clinician (themselves or by delegation) should take responsibility for these tasks: explaining the model of post-treatment care and the roles of health professionals involved in post-treatment care including the role of general practice explaining the treatment summary and follow-up care plan discussing the development of a shared follow-up and survivorship care plan where…
Read More5.2.1 Preventing recurrence
Not smoking, eating a healthy diet, being sun smart, avoiding or limiting alcohol intake, being physically active and maintaining a healthy body weight may help reduce the risk of primary recurrence or a second primary cancer. Encourage and support all cancer survivors to reduce modifiable risk factors for recurrence as well as other chronic diseases.…
Read More5.4.4 Communication with the general practitioner
The lead clinician should ensure regular, timely, two-way communication with the general practitioner about: the patient’s progress the follow-up care plan potential late effects supportive and palliative care requirements any shared care arrangements clarification of various roles in patient care a process for rapid re-entry to medical services for patients with suspected recurrence or if…
Read More5.4.1 Supportive care
See validated screening tools mentioned in Principle 4 ‘Supportive care’. Additionally, the ‘Cancer Survivors Unmet Needs (CaSun)’ is another validated screening tool that may help health professionals to identify the unmet needs of patients during survivorship. A number of specific challenges and needs may arise for cancer survivors: emotional distress arising from fear of disease…
Read More6.8.1 Supportive care
See validated screening tools mentioned in Principle 4 ‘Supportive care’. A number of specific challenges and needs may arise at this time for patients: assistance for dealing with emotional and psychological distress resulting from fear of death or dying, existential concerns, anticipatory grief, communicating wishes to loved ones, interpersonal problems and sexuality concerns potential isolation…
Read More7.3.1 Supportive care
See validated screening tools mentioned in Principle 4 ‘Supportive care’. A number of specific challenges and needs may arise for patients at this time: assistance for dealing with emotional and psychological distress from anticipatory grief, fear of death or dying, anxiety/depression and interpersonal problems management of physical symptoms including altered bowel function and incontinence stoma…
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