Editorial: Making a coordinated effort

Friday, Jan. 19, 2007 | 6:57 a.m.

Improvements in prevention, early detection and treatment have contributed to an overall decline in cancer deaths among Americans for a second straight year. But patients often struggle with making certain that their doctors communicate with each other.

A story by USA Today on Thursday says that in 2004 - the most recent year for which figures were available - 553,888 people died of cancer, which is 3,014 fewer than died of cancer in 2003.

What hasn't changed enough, however, is that cancer patients and their caretakers often have difficulty in coordinating all of the doctor appointments, treatments and prescriptions needed. A joint poll by USA Today, the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard Medical School shows that half of the nation's cancer patients have problems coordinating their care.

Physicians who don't receive a patient's records from other specialists in time for appointments often waste precious time just trying to get up to speed. The poll shows that one in five patients received duplicate tests, and one in four received conflicting information.

The medical community has made strides in the early detection and treatment of cancer but has a long way to go in the continuity of care. Cancer patients should be focusing on getting well, rather than chasing paperwork.