In a unique position or squeezed out? the professional roles of general practitioners in cancer care in general and of young adult cancer patients in particular

Background. Exploring experiences of general practitioners (GPs), regarding roles in cancer care of young adults (YAs). Methods. Ten qualitative interviews with GPs were theoretically analyzed against professional characteristics. Findings. The GPs tended to make general statements, using everyday language, they experience that their patients disappear, they are seldom involved, and they lack knowledge. Conclusions. GPs have few experiences with YA cancer patients, but they have a potentially unique role in general primary cancer care if they develop their vocational vocabulary, relate more to relevant theory, and get a clearer vision of the content of the professional aspects of their work.