The responsibility of the family physician in the detection of gynecologic cancer.
The family physician's role in health maintenance and preventive medicine places him or her in a unique position in providing care for the gynecologic patient. Illness as well as health has been a traditionally matriarchal responsibility and therefore places the woman at risk for gynecologic cancer in contact with her family physician at a greater frequency than other specialties. Caring for the family's health needs should be used as an opportunity for the physician and the patient to discuss her own personal health care needs, which include those in the field of gynecology. Family physicians will not provide definitive treatment for major gynecologic malignancies; however physicians must know the best referral opportunities available to the patient and to the consultant. The family physician must further be able and willing to reassume follow-up care after definitive therapy has been effected.
D004501:Education, Medical; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family; D012017:Referral and Consultation