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 April 2016. This edition published in June 2021.

ISBN: 978-1-76096-144-2

Suggested citation: Cancer Council Victoria and Department of Health Victoria 2021, Optimal care pathway for people with colorectal cancer, 2nd edn, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne.

Enquiries about this publication can be sent to optimalcare.pathways@cancervic.org.au.

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

Professor Alexander Heriot (Chair), Colorectal Surgeon, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne

Professor Alex Boussioutas, Gastroenterologist, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne

Professor Peter Gibbs, Medical Oncologist, Western Health

Dr Michael Homewood, General Practitioner, Lara Medical Centre

Associate Professor Sam Ngan, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Ms Wendy Sansom, CNC Stomal Therapy Nurse, Eastern Health

Professor Robert Thomas, Special Advisor on Health, Professorial Fellow, The University of Melbourne

Ms Julia Brancato, Project Coordinator, Cancer Council Victoria

Professor Alexander Heriot, Colorectal Surgeon, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne (Chair)

Ms Georgina Akers, Colorectal Cancer Follow-up Nurse, Western Health

Mrs Sandra Anderson, Consumer Representative, Barwon Health

Ms Jenni Bourke, Occupational Therapist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Associate Professor Alex Boussioutas, Gastroenterologist, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne

Mrs Marilyn Dolling, Consumer Representative, Barwon Health

Dr Louise Gorman, Radiation Oncologist, Ballarat Austin Radiation Oncology Centre

Mahesh Iddawela, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Goulburn Valley Health; Senior Lecturer, RHAC, The University of Melbourne

Dr Michael Homewood, General Practitioner, Lara Medical Centre

Dr Greg Mewett, Palliative Care Physician, Ballarat Health Care

Associate Professor Sam Ngan, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne

Ms Wendy Sansom, CNC Stomal Therapy Nurse, Eastern Health

Mr Henrick Schwalb, Surgeon, Border East Clinical

Professor Robert Thomas, Chief Advisor on Cancer, Victorian Department of Health

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

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 and Radiation Therapy

Cancer Nurses Society of Australia

Clinical Oncology Society of Australia

Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand

Dietitians Australia

Gastroenterological Society of Australia

Interventional Radiology Society of Australasia

Medical Oncology Group of Australia

Oncology Social Workers Australia and New Zealand

Royal Australasian College of Physicians

Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia

Alfred Health

Cancer Australia

Cancer Council Victoria, Strategy and Support

Cancer Institute New South Wales

Consumer representative

Concord Repatriation General Hospital New South Wales

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 to provide feedback including relevant Cancer Council committees and networks, Integrated Cancer Services, Primary Health Networks and a number of health services.

The multidisciplinary team may include the following members:

• care coordinator (as determined by multidisciplinary team members)*
• gastroenterologist with colorectal expertise*
• general and/or colorectal surgeon*
• medical oncologist*
• nurse (with appropriate expertise)*
• pathologist*
• radiation oncologist*
• radiologist with expertise in MRI*
• stomal therapy nurse*
• Aboriginal health practitioner, Indigenous liaison officer or remote general practitioner
• clinical psychologist
• clinical trials coordinator
• dietitian
• exercise physiologist
• fertility specialist
• general practitioner
• geneticist or genetic counsellor
• hepato-pancreatobiliary surgeon
• interventional radiologist
• nuclear medicine physician with PET expertise
• occupational therapist
• palliative care specialist
• pharmacist
• physiotherapist
• psychiatrist
• social worker
• spiritual/pastoral care
• thoracic surgeon.

* Denotes core members. Core members of the multidisciplinary team are expected to attend most multidisciplinary team meetings either in person or remotely.