[Care of cancer patients from the point of view of general practice].

Data relevant to the management and post-hospital care of cancer patients were collected in six Austrian General Practices. The prevalence of the most frequent malignant diseases was the same as in extensive Austrian statistics. 10% of our patients were in observance at our practices for more than ten years. Diagnosis was attained in 30% by follow-up of relevant symptoms with the means available to the General Practitioner. 43.3% could be considered healed and had no treatment whatever. Patients being treated in an oncologic centre were significantly younger than patients staying with the General Practitioner. Even in doctors highly motivated to personally inform patients about their diagnosis, 29% of patients had, for valid reasons, not been informed. Only two of 36 patients died at home.