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 November 2014. This edition published in June 2021…

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

Professor Ian Kronborg, Gastroenterologist, Western Health (Chair) Dr Sarat Chander, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Dr Jessica Howell, Gastroenterologist, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, The University of Melbourne, Burnet Institute Melbourne Professor Stuart Roberts, Hepatologist, Alfred Health and Monash University Professor William Sievert, Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist, Monash Health Dr Manfred Spanger, Interventional Radiologist, Eastern Health…

Dr Ian Kronborg, Head of Gastroenterology, Western Health (Chair) Ms Catherine Bradley, Social Work Team Leader, Surgery and Specialty, Austin Health Ms Elise Davies, Manager Cancer Strategy and Development, Department of Health, Victoria Professor Robert Jones, Liver Transplant Unit Director, Austin Health Ms Heather Jordan, Oncology Dietitian, Western Health Associate Professor Vijayaragavan Muralidharan, Hepatobiliary Surgeon,…

Advance Care Planning Australia Allied Health Professions Australia Australasian Association of Nuclear Medicine Specialists Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine, Royal Australia College of Physicians Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group Australia and New Zealand Gastric and Oesophageal Surgery Association Australian and New Zealand Hepatic, Pancreatic and Biliary Association Australian and New Zealand Society of Neuroradiology Australian and…

In general, people from lower socioeconomic groups are at greater risk of poor health, have higher rates of illness, disability and death, and live shorter lives than those from higher socioeconomic groups (AIHW 2016). People experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage are less likely to participate in screening programs, more likely to be obese, less likely to exercise…

Alfred Health Cancer Australia Cancer Council Victoria, Strategy and Support Division Department of Health Victoria, Commissioning and System Improvement Division, Cancer Unit Cancer Institute New South Wales Concord Repatriation General Hospital New South Wales Consumer representative National Cancer Expert Reference Group Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne Other stakeholders consulted…

A diagnosis of cancer may present additional challenges to people who have pre-existing chronic mental health or psychiatric concerns, resulting in exacerbation of their mental health symptoms. This may include heightened anxiety, worsening depression or thoughts of self-harm. As poor adjustment and coping can affect treatment decisions, people who are known to have a mental…

The multidisciplinary team may include the following members: care coordinator (as determined by multidisciplinary team members)* gastroenterologist/hepatologist* hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeon* interventional radiologist* nurse (with appropriate expertise)* radiation oncologist* Aboriginal Health Practitioner, Indigenous Liaison Officer or Remote General Practitioner clinical trials coordinator dietitian exercise physiologist fertility specialist general practitioner medical oncologist nuclear medicine physician occupational therapist palliative…

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…