ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the integral role of primary care in providing optimal care for cancer survivors, covering the key roles of primary care, evidence supporting primary care involvement and specific models, and outlining relevant guidance to support primary care providers (PCPs). The World Health Organization (WHO) describes primary care as “first-contact, accessible, continued, comprehensive and coordinated care. The practice of primary care varies across health care systems worldwide. PCPs already manage survivors within their clinical practice. The largest groups of long-term survivors are those with a personal history of prostate cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and melanoma. Survivors also report a range of unmet needs. A systematic review examining unmet needs in Australian cancer survivors noted that psychosocial needs predominate, including the need for assistance to deal with the fear of cancer recurrence, feeling uncertain about the future, and worry about partners, family, and friends.
