Via practica 3/2025
Preventive physical examination of cancer survivors at general practitioner’s office
Diagnostic and screening improvements in oncology move cancer diagnosis to earlier more favorable clinical stages and combined with the use of innovative treatments, extend the survival of patients with malignant diseases. The prevalence of cancer survivors who are in longterm remission or may be considered chronically ill due to duration of the disease, is increasing. Approximately 100 million people, i.e. 1.3 % of the world’s population, have a history of malignancy. Oncology societies ESMO, NCCN, ASCO refer to patient with cancer from the time of diagnosis, during and after cancer treatment, as cancer survivor. Cancer survivorship focuses on the antineoplastic treatment and toxicity management, symptom relief and the psychosocial wellbeing, aiming to preserve the quality of life, to protect and maintain survivors´ health, and to restore the socioeconomic position. The oncologist is in charge of the early phase of anticancer treatment and follow-up. There are several models of long-term follow-up around the world, involving primary care physicians, medical specialists or specialist nurses. A general practitioner who is aware of anticancer treatment modalities and their long-term effects can play a crucial role in cancer survivorship care.
Keywords: cancer survivorship, preventive care, long-term follow-up, recurrence
