About this OCP
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 September 2015. This edition published in June 2021.
ISBN: 978-1-76096-151-0
Cancer Council Victoria and Department of Health and Human Services Victoria 2021, Optimal care pathway for people with head and neck 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.
Dr Andrew Coleman (Co-chair), Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Mr Stephen Tudge (Co-chair), ENT Head and Neck Surgeon, Alfred Health
Ms Lauren Atkins, Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, OnCore Nutrition
Associate Professor Sidney Davis, Radiation Oncologist, Alfred Health
Dr Jacqui Frowen, Clinical Lead Speech Pathologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Associate Professor Hui Gan, Medical Oncologist, Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness and Research Centre, Austin Health
Professor Robert Thomas, Special Advisor on Health, Professorial Fellow, The University of Melbourne
Dr Jonathan Tomaszewski, Radiation Oncologist, Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre
Professor David Wiesenfeld, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, The Royal Melbourne Hospital; Hon. Clinical Professor, The University of Melbourne
Ms Julia Brancato, Project Coordinator, Optimal Care Pathways, Cancer Council Victoria
Associate Professor June Corry (Chair), Radiation Oncologist; Head of the Head and Neck Unit, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Ms Hamlata Bhana, Social Worker, Head and Neck and Neurology Services, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Associate Professor Jonathan Clark, Head and Neck Surgeon, The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Dr Andrew Coleman, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Associate Professor Hui Gan, Medical Oncologist, Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre, Austin Health
Mr Tim Iseli, Surgeon; Head of Unit, Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Ms Jane Harrowfield, Senior Dietitian, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Mr Stephen Kleid, Senior Head and Neck Surgeon, Peter MacCallam Cancer Centre, Freemasons Hospital
Ms Louise Malcolm, Senior Speech Pathologist, Western Health
Dr Peter Poon, Palliative Care Physician, Monash Health
Ms Wendy Poon, Nurse Coordinator, Head and Neck Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Associate Professor Morton Rawlin, Vice President, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Dr Brian Stein, Medical Oncologist, Central Adelaide Local Health Network
Professor Robert Thomas, Chief Advisor on Cancer, Department of Health and Human Services, Victoria
Dr Jonathan Tomaszewski, Radiation Oncologist, Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre
Dr Eliza Tweddle, Surgeon, ENT Head and Neck surgeon, Albury Wodonga Health
Mr Neil Vallance, Head and Neck Surgeon; Head of Monash Health Head and Neck Service, Monash Health
Associate Professor David Wiesenfeld, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon; Head of Head and Neck Oncology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital; Hon. Clinical Associate Professor, The University of Melbourne
Mr Athol Willoughby, consumer representative
Alexandra Philpott, Project Manager, Optimal Care Pathways, Cancer Council Victoria
Advance Care Planning Australia
Allied Health Professions Australia
Australasian Association of Nuclear Medicine Specialists
Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine, Royal Australia College of Physicians
Australia and New Zealand Head & Neck Cancer Society
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
Dental Health Services Victoria
Dietitians Australia
Head and Neck Cancer Australia
Interventional Radiology Society of Australasia
Medical Oncology Group of Australia
Oncology Social Workers Australia and New Zealand
Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons
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 and Human Services, Health and Wellbeing Division, Cancer and Aged Care 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 include 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)*
- dietitian*
- head and neck surgeon*
- medical oncologist*
- nurse (with appropriate expertise)*
- oral and maxillofacial surgeon*
- pathologist*
- plastic and reconstructive surgeon*
- radiation oncologist*
- radiologist/ nuclear medicine imaging specialist*
- special needs dentist*
- speech pathologist*
- Aboriginal health practitioner, Indigenous liaison officer or remote general practitioner
- clinical trials coordinator
- dentist
- exercise physiologist
- fertility specialist if necessary
- genetic counsellor
- general practitioner
- occupational therapist
- palliative care specialist
- physiotherapist
- psychiatrist
- psychologist
- pharmacist
- radiation therapist
- 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.