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.