193820 - A General Practitioner Education Update on Cancer Prevention and Management

GPs play an essential role in cancer prevention and screening. The ‘A General Practitioner Education Update on Cancer Prevention and Management’, provides an update on the latest cancer prevention, management and follow up in primary care. It is presented by specialists from Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in collaboration with Cancer Council Victoria. The aim of this update is to provide relevant clinical education to General Practitioners about the evolving and newer cancer treatments, their side effects and the information primary care physicians need to know to manage follow-up. Attendees will be encouraged to reflect on their current practice and apply knowledge through interactive panel discussions.

Relevance to General Practice

The role of primary care in cancer management is increasingly recognised as a vital component of cancer services in Australia. General Practitioners are often the first point of contact for people with early symptoms of cancer and they have a role in prevention, screening and follow up during treatment. Better engagement of primary care providers will ensure prompt investigation of symptoms, earlier cancer diagnosis and timely referral to an appropriate multidisciplinary team. Early detection of such cancers is an important part of the work of the general practitioner, bringing the hope to women and men of less aggressive treatment needed, and improved survival.

Learning outcomes

Describe the investigations to exclude breast cancer in a patient presenting with a breast lump

Use specialist information to identify investigations and local referral pathways for patients presenting with a suspected melanoma

Identify how to triage patients presenting with reflux for gastroscopy

Explain how to implement a regime to improve the condition of a patient prior to cancer treatment

Explain how to implement evidence-based screening and risk assessment tools aimed at improving early detection of bowel, breast and prostate cancer

Domains of General Practice

D1. Communication skills and the patient-doctor relationship

D2. Applied professional knowledge and skills

D3. Population health and the context of general practice

D4. Professional and ethical role

D5. Organisational and legal dimensions

Curriculum Contextual Units

Men's health
Women's health
Oncology and palliative care
General practice teaching

Partnering organisations

Peter Mac Callum Cancer Centre and Cancer Council Victoria