Table 1.

Ways in which the primary care physician can act as professional cancer patient advocate

Understanding the diagnosis Informing family and friends Noting how illness might affect family, lifestyle, and work decisions Researching and choosing a medical team Arranging or attending meetings with cancer specialists Helping to determine treatment Understanding and managing treatment options Getting strategically prepared for new treatments on the horizon Gathering a complementary medicine team to provide mind/body support while undergoing traditional treatment During remission, determining and monitoring ongoing maintenance treatment and necessary checkups Helping with rehabilitation Being alert to recurrence Providing palliative care (referral to hospice and end of life care) Referring patients to resources that can help with insurance Referring patients to resources that can help with finances Cutting through hospital red tape Referrals for legal advice Offering support or referral to psychological services Helping patients to negotiate work and business affairs Helping patients arrange daily household maintenance and transportation regimen