TABLE 1.

Key Recommendations for Medical Clinicians to Improve Cancer Prevention, Screening, and Treatment in People with Mental Illness

Prevention: Addressing obesity and tobacco use

Strongly consider metformin for weight loss in people with schizophrenia and obesity or rapid weight gain

Actively address tobacco dependence in all people with mental illness and consider bupropion and varenicline in psychiatrically stable patients

Screening

Provide a community health worker or peer counselor to help the patient navigate the screening process

Increase awareness of cancer screening in mental health service providers

Treatment

Consciously avoid the tendency towards “diagnostic over shadowing,” or attributing physical symptoms that may indicate cancer to the patient’s mental illness.

Involve staff from community-based social supports, who often have long-term relationships with patients, early in the diagnostic and treatment process

Engage people with mental illness in end-of-life treatment decisions