Advance Care Planning Australia Allied Health Professions Australia Australasian Association of Nuclear Medicine Specialists Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine, Royal Australia College of Physicians Australia and New Zealand Head & Neck Cancer Society Australian and New Zealand Society of Neuroradiology Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Care Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre Australian College of…

In recent years, adolescent and young adult oncology has emerged as a distinct field due to lack of progress in survival and quality-of-life outcomes (Ferrari et al. 2010; Smith et al. 2013). The significant developmental change that occurs during this life stage complicates a diagnosis of cancer, often leading to unique physical, social and emotional…

Associate Professor June Corry (Chair), Radiation Oncologist; Head of the Head and Neck Unit, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Ms Hamlata Bhana, Social Worker, Head and Neck and Neurology Services, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Associate Professor Jonathan Clark, Head and Neck Surgeon, The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Dr Andrew Coleman, Radiation Oncologist, Peter…

Planning and delivering appropriate cancer care for older people can present a number of challenges. This could also be true for frail people or those experiencing comorbidities. Effective communication between oncology and geriatrics departments will help facilitate best practice care, which takes into account physiological age, complex comorbidities, risk of adverse events and drug interactions,…

Dr Andrew Coleman (Co-chair), Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Mr Stephen Tudge (Co-chair), ENT Head and Neck Surgeon, Alfred Health Ms Lauren Atkins, Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, OnCore Nutrition Associate Professor Sidney Davis, Radiation Oncologist, Alfred Health Dr Jacqui Frowen, Clinical Lead Speech Pathologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Associate Professor Hui Gan, Medical Oncologist,…

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

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 Cancer Council website. First published in September 2015. This edition published in June 2021.…

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…