Role of the family physician in the care of cancer patients

To assess the involvement of family physicians in the continuing care of cancer patients, 499 patients attending the London Regional Cancer Centre for follow-up appointments were questioned. Of the 493 patients with a family doctor, 282 (57.2%) reported that their family doctor had been involved in the diagnosis, 132 (26.8%) in the treatment, and 214 (43.4%) in the follow up. Only 60% thought that their family doctor was aware of their current problems, and only 31.4% had an appointment to see their family doctor in the near future.