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…

People who identify as sexually or gender diverse may have unique needs following a cancer diagnosis. Sexually or gender diverse identities include (but are not limited to) people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, collectively ‘LGBT’. There is no universally agreed upon initialism to describe this community, with other terms such as queer/questioning…

Responsibility for follow-up care should be agreed between the lead clinician, the general practitioner, relevant members of the multidisciplinary team and the patient. This is based on guideline recommendations for post-treatment care, as well as the patient’s current and anticipated physical and emotional needs and preferences. In HCC, underlying liver disease must be carefully managed…

Disability, which can be physical, intellectual or psychological, may have existed before the cancer diagnosis or may be new in onset (occurring due to the cancer treatment or incidentally). Adjusting to life with a disability adds another challenge to cancer care and survivorship. Several barriers prevent people with disabilities from accessing timely and effective health…

Support cancer survivors to participate in research or clinical trials where they are available and appropriate. These might include studies to understand survivors’ issues, to better manage treatment side effects, or to improve models of care and quality of life. For more information visit the Cancer Australia website.

In Australia, HBV (a leading cause of liver cancer) disproportionately affects culturally diverse communities, with 61 per cent of Australians diagnosed with HBV having been born overseas (MacLachlan et al. 2018). The prevalence of chronic HBV among culturally diverse communities in Australia reflects the prevalence observed within their country of birth. In 2016, 41 per…

Cancer is the third leading cause of burden of disease for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. While Australia’s cancer survival rates are among the best in the world, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to experience a different pattern of cancer incidence and significant disparities in cancer outcomes compared with non-Indigenous Australians. In…