We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to the land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures and to Elders past, present and emerging. This work is available from the Leukaemia Foundation website and from the Cancer Council website. This edition published in October…

Our thanks to the following health professionals, consumer representatives, stakeholders and organisations consulted in developing this optimal care pathway.

Associate Professor Anoop Enjeti (Chair), Haematologist, NSW Health Pathology John Hunter Hospital, Senior Staff Haematologist, Calvary Mater Hospital, Conjoint Associate Professor University of Newcastle Dr Sharon Avery, Haematologist, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service Jenni Bourke, Occupational Therapist, Blood Cancer Support Coordinator, Leukaemia Foundation Professor David Curtis, Haematologist and Bone Marrow Transplant Physician, Alfred…

Dr Duncan Purtill, Haematologist and Bone Marrow Transplant Physician Consultant, Fiona Stanley Hospital and Pathwest Laboratory Medicine Dr Robin Gasiorowski, Haematologist, Concord Hospital, Macquarie University Hospital, University of Sydney, Macquarie University Professor Paula Marlton, Haematologist, Princess Alexandra Hospital Professor John Pimanda, Haematologist, Prince of Wales Hospital and Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney Professor David…

Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre The Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre provides expertise in survivorship care, information, support and education. Its purpose is to support and enable optimal survivorship care. Telephone: (03) 8559 6220 Website  Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has developed a…

Advance Care Planning Australia Advance Care Planning Australia provides national advance care planning resources for individuals, families, health professional and service providers. Resources include a national advisory service, information resources, a legal forms hub and education modules. Telephone: 1300 208 582 Website Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre The Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre has developed information resources…

Not all patients with MDS require ongoing input from a multidisciplinary team. Where required, the multidisciplinary team may include the following members: care coordinator (as determined by multidisciplinary team members)* haematologist* infectious diseases physician* nurse (with appropriate expertise or under the supervision of nurses with appropriate expertise)* pathologist including pathologist with molecular genetic expertise* pharmacist*…

Complementary therapies may be used together with conventional medical treatments to support and enhance quality of life and wellbeing. They do not aim to cure the patient’s cancer. Instead, they are used to help control symptoms such as pain and fatigue (Cancer Council Australia 2019). The lead clinician or health professional involved in the patient’s…

Consider a referral to a psychologist, psychiatrist, pastoral/spiritual care practitioner, social worker, specialist nurse or a relevant community-based program if the patient has these issues: displaying emotional cues such as tearfulness, distress that requires specialist intervention, avoidance or withdrawal being preoccupied with or dwelling on thoughts about cancer and death displaying fears about the treatment…

Supportive care in cancer refers to the following five domains: the physical domain, which includes a wide range of physical symptoms that may be acute, relatively short lived or ongoing, requiring continuing interventions or rehabilitation the psychological domain, which includes a range of issues related to the patient’s mental health wellbeing and personal relationships the…