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 December 2015. This edition published in June 2021.

ISBN: 978 1 76096 155 8

Cancer Council Victoria and Department of Health Victoria 2021, Optimal care pathway for people with keratinocyte cancer (basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell 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.

Associate Professor Chris McCormack (Co-chair), Dermatologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr David Speakman (Co-chair), Surgeon, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Felix Choi, General Practitioner, Australian Skin Cancer Clinics New South Wales

Mr Wai-Ting Choi, Plastic Surgeon, Western Health

Professor Jon Emery, Herman Professor of Primary Care Cancer Research, The University of Melbourne

Dr Michelle Goh, Dermatologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Mukesh Haikerwal AC, General Practitioner, Altona North Medica Group and Flinders University

Dr Eldon Mah, Plastic Surgeon, Parkside Plastic Surgeon

Dr Jeanne North, General Practitioner, Altona North Medical Group

Dr Kathy Pope, Radiation Oncologist, Peter McCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Morton Rawlin, General Practitioner, Macedon Medical Centre, Templestowe Lower

Dr Stephen Shumack, Dermatologist, Central Sydney Dermatology

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

Dr Edward Upjohn, Dermatologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Professor David Whiteman, Medical Epidemiologist, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland

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

Professor John Thompson (Chair), Surgical Oncologist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney

Dr Wai-ting Choi, Plastic Surgeon, Austin Health

Dr Felix Choi, General Practitioner, Australian Skin Cancer Clinics

Dr Alvin Chong, Dermatologist and Senior Lecturer, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Skin & Cancer Foundation Inc., The University of Melbourne

Professor Jon Emery, General Practitioner, Professor of Primary Care Cancer Research, The University of Melbourne, Western Health

Dr Vanessa Estall, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Michelle Goh, Dermatologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Vanessa Haller, General Practitioner, Southern Skin Cancer Clinic, Mornington Peninsula and Carrum Downs

Ms Mary Macheras-Magius, President, Consumer Action Victoria

Professor Mukesh Haikerwal AO, General Medical Practitioner, Chair Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Flinders University School of Medicine; Board, Cancer Council Victoria

Ms Nicola Quin, Head of Division, Strategy and Support, Cancer Council Victoria

Associate Professor Morton Rawlin, General Practitioner, Vice President Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Sydney University

Dr David Speakman, Surgical Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Edward Upjohn, Dermatologist, Dermatological Surgeon, The Royal Melbourne Hospital

Professor David Whiteman, Medical Epidemiologist, Cancer Control Group Leader, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Ms Kathryn Whitfield, Acting Manager Cancer Services, Department of Health and Human Services

Alexandra Viner, Project Manager – Optimal Care Pathways

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

Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons

Cancer Nurses Society of Australia

Clinical Oncology 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
Skin Cancer College Australasia
The Australasian College of Dermatologists

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

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 the multidisciplinary team members)*
• dermatologist*
• nurse (with appropriate expertise in wound management)*
• pathologist*
• radiation oncologist*
• radiologist/imaging specialist*
• plastic surgeon/ surgeon*
• 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
• 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.