Primary Care Providers and Cancer Diagnoses

Primary Care Providers and Cancer Diagnoses: Why PCPs need more education in this area

By: Terri Schmitt PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP
Executive Director, NPACE

NPACE is hosting a virtual conference every primary care provider should consider attending, March 12^th and 13^th NPACE is tackling helping primary care providers prevent, detect, and co-manage patients with cancer. This much needed and unique 2-day covers topics from secondary screenings, to reading lab work and understanding newer therapies. Caring for our patients from prevention through survival cannot be emphasized enough.

Cancer affects primary care practice, and its impact is growing. The following facts and research findings highlight shortcomings from a primary care lens in healthcare for cancer patients:

• The number of new cancer diagnosis in the U.S. in 2025 is estimated to be over 2 million.¹
• At least 40% of new cancers are preventable including causes like sun exposure, smoking, alcohol, and obesity.¹
• Primary care clinicians (PCPs) are critical in identifying who is more at risk and in co-managing other conditions. In one study of over 17,000 patients, 76% of patients had one existing comorbid and 21% had 3 or more.³
• PCPs have low comfort levels in continued cancer surveillance in patients who have had a previous cancer diagnosis and in ongoing monitoring for treatment related effects.⁴
• In pushing for continuity of care, prescribing and continued treatment of cardiometabolic and mental health conditions during cancer diagnosis and treatment is important but there is differing opinion on who should manage these conditions.⁵
• Confusion remains in the role of PCPs in cancer co-management. In a meta-analysis of 35 published papers, 6 themes highlighting need for improved communication, role delineation, and coordination of responsibilities is needed.⁶
• Cancer diagnosis and survival is expensive. Cancer survivors report higher out-of-pocket spending, as much as 20% of annual income on medical care.² How many survivors do you have in your practice?

Ultimately, the best patient outcomes with improvements in knowledge, communication, and action is the goal of every clinician. How can primary care providers not afford to learn about cancer prevention, secondary screening, co-management, and survivorship? NPACE is invested in helping you better care for your patients and in making it easy to attend our virtual conferences. Check out the March virtual and the amazing Lab Fest in August of 2025 or a 1 day virtual in December. Join NPACE, the Association of Cancer Centers (ACCC), and Advanced Practitioner Society for Oncology and Hematology (APSHO) for this groundbreaking and unique event.

References

1. American Cancer Society (2025). Cancer Facts and Figures 2025. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2025/2025-cancer-facts-and-figures-acs.pdfn
2. National Cancer Institute (2024). Financial Toxicity (Financial Distress) and Cancer Treatment page. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/managing-care/track-care-costs/financial-toxicity-pdq
3. Swan, R., McPhail, S., Witt, J., Shand, B., et al. (2018). Diagnosing cancer in primary care: results from the National Cancer Diagnosis Audit. British Journal of General Practice, 68(666), e^3-e&2. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp17X694169.
4. Nekhlyudov, L., Snow, C., Knelson, L.P., Dibble, K.E., et al. (2023). Primary care providers’ comfort in caring for cancer survivors: Implications for risk-stratified care. Pediatric Blood Cancer, 70:e30174. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.30174
5. Chou, C., Hohmann, N.S., Hastings, T. J., Li, C., McDaniel, C.C., et al. (2020). How comfortable are primary care physicians and oncologists in prescribing medications for comorbidities in patients with cancer? Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 16(8), 1087-1094. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2019.11.006.
6. Dossett, L.A., Hudson, J.N., Morris, A.M., Lee, M.C., et a. (2017). The primary care provider (PCP)-cancer specialist relationship: A systematic review and mixed-methods meta-synthesis. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 67: 156-169. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21385