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 at the Cancer Council website.

First published in August 2015. This edition published in June 2021.

ISBN: 978-1-76096-146-6

Cancer Council Victoria and Department of Health and Human Services 2021, Optimal care pathway for people with high-grade glioma, 2nd edn, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne.

Enquires 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 Mark Rosenthal (Chair), Medical Oncologist, The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Professor Kate Drummond, Neurosurgeon, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and The University of Melbourne

Professor Hui Gan, Medical Oncologist, Austin Health

Associate Professor Alexander Holmes Consultant Psychiatrist, The Royal Melbourne Hospital and The University of Melbourne

Professor Jennifer Philip, Palliative Care Specialist, University of Melbourne, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and The Royal Melbourne Hospital

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

Ms Julia Brancato, Project Coordinator, Cancer Council Victoria

Professor Mark Rosenthal (Chair), Director of Medical Oncology, Melbourne Health

Ms Luisa Barassi, Nurse and Brain Tumour Research Coordinator, Melbourne Health

Dr Lawrence Cher, Neuro-oncologist, Epworth Hospital, Austin Health

Ms Emma Daly, Neuro-oncology Clinical Nurse Consultant, Cabrini Health

Professor Gavin Davis, Neurosurgeon, Austin Health, Cabrini Health

Dr Anthony Dowling, Medical Oncologist, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne

Associate Professor Kate Drummond, Neurosurgeon, Melbourne Health

Mrs Marilyn Dolling, consumer representative, OCP Steering Committee, Cancer Action Victoria

Dr Ronnie Freilich, Neuro-oncologist, Cabrini Health, Monash Health

Dr Frank Gaillard, Neuroradiologist, Melbourne Health

Associate Professor Hui Gan, Medical Oncologist, Austin Health

Associate Professor Alex Holmes, Consultant Psychiatrist, Melbourne Health, The University of Melbourne

Dr Gautam Khurana, Neurosurgeon, CNS Neurosurgery

Ms Dianne Legge, Brain Tumour Support Coordinator, Austin Health

Dr Zarnie Lwin, Medical Oncologist, Senior Lecturer, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, The University of Queensland

Associate Professor Jennifer Philip, Deputy Director of Palliative Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne

Ms Jan Quiney, Senior Clinician Physiotherapist, Neuroscience Centre, Melbourne Health

Ms Jane Staker, Neuro-Oncology Nurse Coordinator, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne

Professor Robert Thomas, Chief Advisor on Cancer, Department of Health and Human Services

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 and Radiation Therapy

Brain Tumour Alliance Australia

Cancer Nurses Society of Australia

Clinical Oncology Society of Australia

Cooperative Trials Group for Neuro-Oncology

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

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

Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne

Other stakeholders consulted to provide feedback including 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)*
• medical oncologist / neuro-oncologist*
• neuropathologist*
• neuroradiologist*
• neurosurgeon*
• nurse (with appropriate expertise)*
• radiation oncologist*
• social worker*
• Aboriginal health practitioner, Indigenous liaison officer or remote general practitioner
• clinical trials coordinator
• dietitian
• exercise physiologist
• fertility specialist
• general practitioner
• geneticist
• neurologist
• neuropsychologist
• nuclear medicine physician
• occupational therapist
• palliative care specialist
• pharmacist
• physiotherapist
• psychiatrist
• rehabilitation physician
• speech therapist
• 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.