What are the implications of patients living longer with cancer?

Traditionally, Primary Care Practitioners (PCP) have played a secondary care role in the management of cancer patients. However, growing “survival rates and new models of care mean that the role of primary care is evolving, and a restructuring of cancer services to provide greater integrated care is now required” (Buckland, 2016, p.45).

“Cancer survivors are generally supportive of the concept of shared care to deliver holistic care after cancer and identify a number of key elements that would ensure effectiveness of shared care after cancer, including effective communication, care coordination and navigation, and shared medical records. They acknowledge that such an approach requires preparation of both survivors and their health professionals and a framework of care that supports measurement of outcomes” (Lawn, Fallon-Ferguson and Koczwara, 2017, p. 1089).

Having listened to the expert opinions in the video above, do you think the borders between primary and secondary care are viewed as too rigid? Do you think the advancement of targeted drugs, advanced diagnostics and new models of care influence better collaboration between disciplines, allowing PCPs a greater role in delivering oncology services to enhance patient experience and outcomes?