General practitioners in oncology – quarterbacks in community cancer care

Cancer care is like a team sport in which each member of the team has a different but critical role to play. General practitioners in oncology (GPOs) are key members of that team, whether in the cancer centre, working side-by-side with other oncology specialists, or with community teams, providing medical leadership in community cancer clinics.

“They really are the quarterbacks for community cancer care,” says Dr. Muyran Thana, medical oncologist and provincial medical lead for community oncology with the QEII Cancer Centre. “GPOs are leaders in their community and on their local cancer care teams. They know their patients; they know the community. They see the day-to-day issues and work with their teams and other cancer care specialists to ensure patients receive safe care as close to home as possible.”

GPOs work collaboratively with specialists and care teams to manage patient care in medical oncology, gynecologic oncology, hematology, radiation oncology, thoracic surgery and palliative care. GPOs work closely with the patient’s primary cancer specialist on their plan of care and regularly consult with other health professions, as appropriate. 

GPOs are an important go-to resource for the patient’s primary care provider and offer guidance on issues regarding necessary tests for a patient with a suspected cancer. They also respond to questions about referral processes and are a trusted source for information on all things cancer.

Dr. Karen Howlett and Dr. Karma Murphy are GPOs at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital community cancer clinic. 

Karen works four days a week at the cancer clinic. She says her work is very rewarding but challenging on some days. “Cancer treatments are changing with a lot of research showing better outcomes with immunotherapy and this is good news for patients,” she says. “The Yarmouth site has very experienced nurses, pharmacists and support staff who are great work colleagues and we have a really good working relationship.”

Karma splits her week between oncology and obstetrics, working two days a week in oncology.  She says both a personal and family experience with cancer prompted her interest in becoming a GPO.

“I love helping people through a very difficult time in their lives,” she says. “The relationships I build with patients are valuable to me and to them. Reducing the amount of travel for patients, especially for those who live in more remote communities such as Yarmouth, is really important. Patients are thankful for our clinic, and I feel that I am making an important contribution every day.”

Patients in communities across Nova Scotia also agree. Tressa Bower is one of Karen’s grateful patients.

“Over the last 25 years, I’ve received more and more cancer care at my local hospital in Yarmouth,” says Tressa. “I guess you could call me a veteran. Dr. Howlett is both empathetic and compassionate. I am so lucky to have her as my doctor. The entire clinic treats me like gold and getting care at home means so much to me.”

As a result of investment in community cancer services, including the addition of GPO positions, the majority (97%) of patients like Tressa who need chemotherapy or immunotherapy are now able to have that treatment closer to their home community. 

The investment is good for patients as it means less time away from work and family, fewer travel-related costs and worries about parking and navigating city streets. It’s good for the cancer system, because it frees cancer centre appointment times for patients who need complex care. And it’s good for the environment; less travel means reduced carbon emissions. 

With the growing success of community cancer clinics, recruitment is ongoing. If you are a GPO or a general practitioner with interest in on-the-job training to become a full or part-time GPO, please visit our recruitment website.

Photo of (L-R) Tressa Bower, patient, with Karen Howlett, GPO.