A 54-year-old man with a long smoking history presents with chronic cough and weight loss. Chest x-ray reveals a right upper lobe mass. He lives in a ...

Question

A 54-year-old man with a long smoking history presents with chronic cough and weight loss. Chest x-ray reveals a right upper lobe mass. He lives in a rural community 400 km from the nearest tertiary centre. As the rural family physician, which action best reflects the Collaborator and Manager CanMEDS roles?

Accepted Answer

Refer him urgently via established cancer diagnostic pathways and coordinate with specialists to minimise travel and delays

Answer

Advise him to arrange his own travel and seek care when convenient

Answer

Order serial chest x-rays every 6 months locally

Answer

Start empirical antibiotics and reassess in 3 months

Answer

Tell him that rural residence limits treatment options and there is little you can do

ca-mccqe1 MCQ (SBA): Cancer diagnosis in rural setting