Systemic anticancer therapies and the role of primary care

Abstract

Cancer therapeutics are complex, constantly evolving, and aim to prolong the life of a patient with cancer by cure, inducing remission, or by slowing disease progression. Cancer treatments can be delivered locally directly against the tumour (i.e. surgery or radiotherapy) or systemically (i.e. chemotherapy, hormone therapy). Systemic therapies have traditionally been administered intravenously in a hospital or day unit setting; however many of the more recently discovered systemic cancer therapies are taken as an oral medication. They also pose significant potential risks to a patient’s health through side effects, immunosuppression, and later development of secondary cancers. This article focusses on systemic cancer therapies from a primary care perspective. Recent developments and classifications of systemic therapies are briefly presented. Key considerations around monitoring, potential treatment harms, and patient support are discussed to inform the delivery of primary care for cancer patients receiving systemic therapies.