Supporting patients who may be battling with cancer

Supporting patients who may be battling with cancer, is when a GP really comes to the forefront in primary care. There are so many aspects to consider from the patient’s point of view, and not just in terms of diagnosis, treatment and after care.

Many patients will find it hard enough to cope with the emotional side of living with cancer and any potential gruelling treatment, without having other concerns such as their family, their finances and a multitude of other issues.

Support is of paramount importance from all aspects, including letting patients know that other than just a GP and their family, there is a wealth of excellent services available to them, during treatment and post-care. Anything a GP can do to make a patient feel that they are not alone, will help their physical and mental health.

As most advertisements show, cancer is not a journey that should be made alone. With so many different types of cancer and severities of the disease, it will be up to the GP to support and provide the most helpful information and care, and this certainly isn’t an easy task.

Initial stages after a cancer diagnosis

Once cancer has been diagnosed, it will be a vulnerable time for patients, and a difficult time for GPs to break the news. There is no doubt that this is a sensitive and difficult time for both sides, and potentially where a GP is needed most. The family GP will be the only friendly face they acknowledge, after a series of tests and a visit to a consultant or oncologist that they have never seen before.

This should be time for you to make your surgery team aware of any patient who has had a recent diagnosis, so they can treat the situation with the care that is needed. A double appointment is advisable, as this will be an emotional time for the patient. In these early stages of cancer diagnosis, the patient will need as much support as possible.

Whilst GPs have an extortionate workload most of the time, letting your patient know that if they have concerns at any time, they can contact the surgery, providing them with that extra bit of comfort.

Explaining the next steps to the patient is also important. You may even suggest that they write it down, as they may not be in the right emotional state to take it all in. Every patient is different, so be guided by their reactions to the news.

Making a prompt follow up appointment is also a good idea, as the patient may not be able to clear their heads to absorb what the next steps will be. Availability for questions after diagnosis will help the patient considerably, as there will undoubtedly be a ‘fear factor’ associated with the shock of being diagnosed. Explaining what happens next, what treatment is recommended and what side effects they can expect, will also be valuable to them.

As we all know, cancer doesn’t wait for anyone, so letting the patients know that treatment is essential (in the gentlest fashion) will make a difference.

Treatment

You may have a diverse range of patients in your practice, so some may not approach your advice in the same way. Some may want to try ‘natural healing’ or homeopathic treatments, or even ‘things they have read on the internet’. Being prepared for this is difficult, but sound medical advice about the ‘pros and cons’ may help you.

If your patients trust in your judgement on the best available treatment, talking them through what happens, why and how, plus any side effects they may experience, will go a long way. Once again, letting them know that they can ask questions, or report anything unusual during treatment, is perfectly acceptable.

There are plenty of community support groups that offer services such as driving to and from hospital appointments and other help, should a patient feel unwell during treatment. Let them know about any local support that is available, there are a considerable amount of Volunteer Bureaux providing these types of service

Easing emotional burdens

If your cancer patient is a breadwinner in their family, they may start to worry if their terms and conditions of employment don’t cover extended leave for illness. They don’t need this extra emotional stress, so any advice you can give them on this topic will make their journey through treatment a little easier. It may also be helpful if a member of the family needs to talk, that you can find time to help them as well. It’s very much dependent on the severity of the disease, as to how much time you can spend when you already have a busy workload.

After care

If a patient comes through their treatment well, you already know that your job doesn’t stop there. After care for cancer patients is an ongoing journey, so follow ups on a regular basis will help to keep them stress free to fight their own personal battles.