The Role of the General Practitioner in Breast Cancer Screening
General practitioners play an important role in the success of the BreastScreen Queensland Program in the strategy to reduce mortality from breast cancer.
Although a woman does not require a General Practitioner's referral to attend for a free breastscreen, it is known that women are most likely to have a breastscreen if their doctor recommends it. Australian studies have shown that between 68 and 91 per cent of women will attend for screening following a recommendation from their general practitioner (Clover et al. 1996, Cover et al. 1992).
General practitioners can play a key role, not only during recruitment, but also during the screening and assessment stages of the BreastScreen Queensland Program. The general practitioner's role may be further continued to the management stage if a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. The Screening and Assessment Pathway shows this sequence of stages.
In general, the general practitioner's role throughout the screening and assessment pathway involves recruitment, screening, assessment, open biopsy, and ongoing management.
Recruitment
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Provide information to women about breast cancer, breast cancer screening, family history and risk
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Display promotional materials in the practice setting
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Refer eligible women to a BreastScreen Queensland Service for breast cancer screening.
Screening
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Incorporate breast checks into preventive health care for women
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Remind eligible women to have a breastscreen
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Provide women with information and support if required
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Liaise with staff of BreastScreen Queensland Services.
Assessment
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Provide support, information and counselling to women and their families
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Refer women to a breast surgeon if recommendation for open biopsy is made.
Open biopsy
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Provide support, information and counselling to women and their families
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Liaise with the medical officer at the local BreastScreen Queensland Service
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Liaise with the relevant health professionals in any ongoing management, treatment and care of the woman
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Discuss the options for further management and available specialists with the woman and her partner.
Ongoing management
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Provide ongoing counselling and support to the woman and her partner during their adjustment to a diagnosis of breast cancer and the associated grief process
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Inform women about professional counselling services as required
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Ensure that women are aware of the Breast Cancer Support Service provided by the Queensland Cancer Fund
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Inform and encourage women to continue to check their breasts and to attend for regular breastscreens as advised by a specialist or BreastScreen Queensland Service.
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