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. Updated in April 2016. This edition…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Professor Kwun Fong (Chair), Thoracic and Sleep Physician, The Prince Charles Hospital and University of Queensland Thoracic Research Centre Mr Stephen Barnett Thoracic Surgeon, Austin Health and The University of Melbourne Associate Professor Peter Briggs, Medical Oncologist, Monash Health Ms Mary Duffy, Nurse Coordinator, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Professor Jon Emery, Herman Professor of Primary…

The multidisciplinary team may include the following members: cancer care coordinator/ cancer nurse specialist* medical oncologist* nuclear medicine physician* pathologist* radiation oncologist* radiologist* respiratory physician* thoracic surgeon* Aboriginal health practitioner, Indigenous liaison officer or remote general practitioner clinical psychologist clinical trials coordinator dietitian exercise physiologist fertility specialist general practitioner geriatrician interventional radiologist occupational therapist palliative…

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…

Professor Kwun Fong (Chair), Thoracic and Sleep Physician, The Prince Charles Hospital and University of Queensland Thoracic Research Centre Mr Stephen Barnett, Thoracic Surgeon, Austin Health Dr Peter Briggs, Medical Oncologist, Southern Health Ms Elizabeth Dillon, Social Worker, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Professor Jon Emery, Academic General Practitioner, The University of Melbourne Dr Malcolm Feigen,…