BMJ 1995;311:1179-1180 (4 November)

Editorials

Second opinions for patients with cancer

Can give peace of mind but should be used wisely

Cancer is a common disease. Currently it will affect one in three of us in Britain, but by 2020 the figure will be one in two because of changes in the age distribution of the population. The report of the Expert Advisory Group on Cancer has recently been accepted by health ministers in Britain.1 When fully implemented this will provide a hub and spoke system for cancer care based on protocols devised by about 25 cancer centres linked to units in every sizeable general hospital. This will reduce the problem of variations in the quality of care, but it will take time, money, and effort to achieve. There will also be considerable advances in the technology of cancer care, spawned mainly by a revolution in molecular genetics.2

Cancer evokes considerable emotion in patients, their families and carers, and health care . . . [Full text of this article]


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