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. This edition published in June 2021

ISBN: 978-1-76096-145-9

© Cancer Council Australia 2020

Suggested citation: Cancer Council Victoria and Department of Health Victoria 2021, Optimal care pathway for people with hepatocellular carcinoma, 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 Ian Kronborg, Gastroenterologist, Western Health (Chair)

Dr Sarat Chander, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Jessica Howell, Gastroenterologist, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, The University of Melbourne, Burnet Institute Melbourne

Professor Stuart Roberts, Hepatologist, Alfred Health and Monash University

Professor William Sievert, Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist, Monash Health

Dr Manfred Spanger, Interventional Radiologist, Eastern Health

Mr Graham Starkey, Hepatobiliary Surgeon, The University of Melbourne

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

Professor Alex Thompson, Gastroenterologist, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne

Ms Julia Brancato, Project Coordinator, Optimal Care Pathways, Cancer Council Victoria

Dr Ian Kronborg, Head of Gastroenterology, Western Health (Chair)

Ms Catherine Bradley, Social Work Team Leader, Surgery and Specialty, Austin Health

Ms Elise Davies, Manager Cancer Strategy and Development, Department of Health, Victoria

Professor Robert Jones, Liver Transplant Unit Director, Austin Health

Ms Heather Jordan, Oncology Dietitian, Western Health

Associate Professor Vijayaragavan Muralidharan, Hepatobiliary Surgeon, The University of Melbourne

Dr Peggy Pei-Chia Chiang, Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne

Ms Meg Rogers, UGI Nurse Coordinator, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Professor Stuart Roberts, Gastroenterologist, Alfred Health

Professor William Sievert, Director, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Monash Health

Dr Manfred Spanger, Interventional Radiologist, Eastern Health

Mr Graham Starkey, Hepatobiliary Surgeon, The University of Melbourne

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

Dr Sze Ting Lee, Nuclear Medicine Physician, Centre for PET, Austin 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

Australia and New Zealand Gastric and Oesophageal Surgery Association

Australian and New Zealand Hepatic, Pancreatic and Biliary Association

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

Dietitians Australia

Gastroenterological Nurses College of 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 Division

Department of Health Victoria, Commissioning and System Improvement Division, Cancer Unit

Cancer Institute New South Wales

Concord Repatriation General Hospital New South Wales

Consumer representative

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 several health services.

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 care specialist
• pathologist
• pharmacist
• physiotherapist
• psychiatrist
• psychologist
• social worker
• spiritual/pastoral care

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