Cancer patients' voices could help improve care across Australia
· Medical Xpressedited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Australians living with cancer are increasingly being asked a simple but powerful question: How are you? A study led by Flinders University and Flinders Medical Center describes how clinicians routinely listening to cancer patients about their symptoms, well-being and quality of life can transform cancer care.
Supporting cancer patients by regularly asking "how are you?" can help them get support sooner, avoid unnecessary hospital visits and improve their overall health outcomes. This feedback can be tracked through patient-reported outcomes, known as PROs, which involve patients directly reporting symptoms such as pain, fatigue, anxiety or treatment side effects, often through digital questionnaires completed at home or during treatment.
Lead author Dr. Marianne Clausen says cancer patients are often the first to notice changes in their health, but it can be difficult for them to know if changes are a usual part of treatment or something they should discuss with their cancer care team.
"Patients live with the impact of cancer and its treatment every day—so, by routinely asking a patient how they are feeling, we can identify problems earlier and respond before they become more serious," says Clausen from Flinders' College of Medicine and Public Health and Flinders Medical Center.
The paper, published in the Internal Medicine Journal, highlights growing evidence that collecting and acting on patient-reported outcomes can improve quality of life, increase satisfaction with care and reduce emergency department presentations.
For people undergoing cancer treatment, small changes in symptoms can sometimes signal larger issues.
Researchers say patients may experience side effects during treatment, such as pain, worsening fatigue, emotional distress or financial difficulty, but these concerns are often unknown to their health care team until they become severe. Regular symptom reporting gives the care team the opportunity to identify and address these issues earlier.
"Cancer care should not only focus on scans, tests and treatments. Understanding how a person copes physically and emotionally is essential to deliver the best possible care," says Clausen.
Australia is making significant progress with this type of PRO communication. New South Wales has implemented a statewide, patient-reported measures program across more than 50 cancer services, which has collected more than 40,000 patient reports.
Similar initiatives underway include the PREPARES program at Flinders Medical Center in South Australia. Patients complete short weekly surveys about common side effects of cancer treatment, and these patient responses are reviewed by their care team, which can provide support when needed.
In addition, a national $22 million PanCancer Initiative is supporting efforts to integrate patient-reported outcomes across the country.
Researchers say the next challenge is to ensure that patient feedback leads to action. Collecting information alone is not enough. Health services need systems, staff and processes that allow clinicians to review responses and provide timely support when problems are identified.
Clausen says giving patients a stronger voice in their care benefits everyone.
"The goal is to make sure every person living with cancer feels heard, has a way to communicate their concerns to their health care team, and receives support that reflects their individual needs and experiences. When this happens, issues can be managed early, which is better for patients and the health care system," says Clausen.
As cancer survivorship continues to grow, researchers believe patient-reported outcomes should become a routine part of care across Australia, to help people live better during and after cancer treatment.
More information
Marianne Holly Clausen et al., Patient‐reported outcomes in Australian oncology: from emerging practice to system‐wide care, Internal Medicine Journal (2026). DOI: 10.1111/imj.70617
Key medical concepts
Outcome, Patient ReportedCancerQuality of Life
Clinical categories
OncologyCommon illnesses & Prevention Provided by Flinders University Who's behind this story?
Lisa Lock
BA art history, MA material culture. Former museum editor, paramedic, and transplant coordinator. Editing for Science X since 2021. Full profile →
Andrew Zinin
Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →
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