In specialist cancer services, the array of topics to be addressed during patient consultations has expanded as our understanding of cancer and its treatment becomes more comprehensive from a biopsychosocial perspective. Unfortunately, the time available for these discussions has not increased and may even have decreased. Among the many critical topics, alcohol use often receives insufficient attention. Emerging research highlights the significant role of alcohol in the development of certain cancers, emphasizing the need for both individual and population-level awareness in the prevention of cancer. However, the focus on how and why to discuss alcohol use after a cancer diagnosis is more limited.
From the viewpoint of extensive experience in clinical psychology within a large Queensland cancer service, this presentation will explore: Observations of patients’ understanding of the connection between alcohol and cancer; the unintended consequences of minimal assessment of alcohol use; the reasons for raising the topic; and effective communication approaches, including avoiding stigma. The aim is to pose the question – within the limits of the available time in busy clinics, can we raise the bar when assessing and discussing alcohol use in specialist cancer care services?