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…

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…

Alexandra Philpott, Project Manager –Optimal Care Pathways Dr Niall Corcoran, Urologist, The Royal Melbourne and Frankston hospitals, The University of Melbourne, Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre Epworth (Chair) Ms Jenni Bourke, Occupational Therapist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Ms Elise Davies, Manager Cancer Strategy and Development, Department of Health, Victoria Ms Dianne Jones, Urology Nurse, West…

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…

Associate Professor Niall Corcoran (Chair), Surgeon, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Frankston Hospital, The University of Melbourne and the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Associate Professor Ian Collins, Medical Oncologist, SouthWest Regional Cancer Centre, Warrnambool and Deakin University Professor Ian Davis, Medical Oncologist, Eastern Health and Monash University Professor Michael Hofman, Nuclear Medicine Physician, Peter MacCallum Cancer…

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 July 2015. Updated April 2016. This edition published…

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…