Appendix A: Supportive care domains
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…
Read MoreMedical colleges and peak organisations invited to provide feedback
Advance Care Planning Australia Allied Health Professions Australia Australasian Association of Nuclear Medicine Specialists Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine, Royal Australia College of Physicians Australian and New Zealand Society of Neuroradiology Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Care Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre Australian College of Nursing Australian Medical Association Australian Society of Medical Imaging…
Read MoreSexually and gender diverse groups
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…
Read MoreOptimal Care Pathways Steering Committee
Alfred Health Cancer Australia Cancer Council Victoria, Strategy and Support Division Cancer Institute New South Wales Concord Repatriation General Hospital New South Wales Consumer representative Department of Health Victoria, Commissioning and System Improvement Division, Cancer Unit National Cancer Expert Reference Group Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne Other stakeholders consulted…
Read MorePeople with chronic mental health or psychiatric concerns
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…
Read MoreMembers of the multidisciplinary team for head and neck cancer (formerly Appendix E)
The multidisciplinary team may include the following members: care coordinator (as determined by the multidisciplinary team members)* dermatologist* nurse (with appropriate expertise in wound management)* pathologist* radiation oncologist* radiologist/imaging specialist* plastic surgeon/ surgeon* Aboriginal health practitioner, Indigenous liaison officer or remote general practitioner clinical trials coordinator dietitian exercise physiologist fertility specialist general practitioner medical oncologist…
Read MorePeople experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage
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…
Read MoreStatement of acknowledgement
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 December 2015. This edition published in June 2021.…
Read MoreContributors and reviewers
Our thanks to the following health professionals, consumer representatives, stakeholders and organisations consulted in developing this optimal care pathway.
Read MoreExpert working group (this edition)
Associate Professor Chris McCormack (Co-chair), Dermatologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Dr David Speakman (Co-chair), Surgeon, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Dr Felix Choi, General Practitioner, Australian Skin Cancer Clinics New South Wales Mr Wai-Ting Choi, Plastic Surgeon, Western Health Professor Jon Emery, Herman Professor of Primary Care Cancer Research, The University of Melbourne Dr Michelle Goh,…
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