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The radiologist is in many cases the first person to detect a tumour, but rarely the one who informs the patient. But the radiologist is still left with a degree of personal responsibility as the patient has to be advised to see their attending physician quickly to discuss their diagnosis and further options. He should make it clear to the patient that they should seek further treatment and see their doctor. In these situations, patients might also ask the radiologist directly for clear information. “For instance, if a cancer is detected, the patient should be very clearly encouraged to consult his referring clinician very soon in order to organise the medical strategy. More and more the patients ask for clearly shared comprehensive information. However, this is not a simple situation, because it may change the patient’s life, so the way the information is communicated should be considered very carefully.”
Computed tomography image of the chest using low radiation dose
With imaging being one of the major players in the fight against cancer, it is imperative that the public be well informed about its benefits and possibilities. The early detection of cancer, its prognosis and detailed information about the extent of the disease wouldn’t be available to patients without medical imaging. All further treatment decisions are based on these findings. There is also a need to inform the public about the wide range of imaging tech-niques available and which are the best diagnostic tests for a specific cancer or condition. More recently developed meth-such as PET-CT are not well known to patients, but bring crucial benefits to the field of oncologic imaging.Information on the availability of the different methods, whether they are available at all or only in specialised hospital departments, would make it easier for patients to consider their options when they have to undergo a specific procedure. It is also in the public’s best interests to be aware of the specific costs of imaging and whether a referral is needed if they want to see a specialist or undergo a specific imaging examination.
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