The causes of most low-grade lymphomas are not fully understood, and there are currently no clear prevention strategies. Some low-grade lymphomas such as gastric MALT are, however, preventable through identification and eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection.

The risk factors in common across all low-grade indolent lymphomas include the following:

• Age – incidence of low-grade lymphomas increases with age
• Obesity – high BMI in adulthood and early adulthood may increase the risk of low-grade lymphomas (Abar et al. 2019)
• Family history – individuals with a first-degree relative (parent, child, sibling) with a low-grade lymphoma have a small increased risk of developing NHL
• Race/ethnicity – there is a higher incidence of indolent NHL in white Caucasian populations compared with non-Caucasian ethnicities
• Radiation exposure – patients treated with radiation for other cancers have slightly increased risk of developing a low-grade This risk is greater for patients treated with both radiation therapy and chemotherapy
• Weakened immune system – people with weakened immune systems as a result of immunosuppressive drugs, chronic infection or some genetically inherited syndromes are at a higher risk of developing a low-grade lymphoma
• Autoimmune diseases – people with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren’s disease and coeliac disease may have an increased risk of developing a low-grade lymphoma
• There is a possible association between exposure to glyphosate-based agricultural pesticides and risk of developing a low-grade lymphoma, but a lack of prospective studies limits definitive

Follicular lymphoma

• Gender – women have a slightly higher risk of developing FL than men
• Race/ethnicity – FL occurs more commonly in Caucasian populations
• Viral infections – viruses that have been implicated in developing FL include Epstein-Barr virus, human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus

MALT lymphomas

MALT lymphomas, in particular, are associated with a variety of infectious/autoimmune disorders:

• 90 per cent of gastric MALT lymphoma are associated with Helicobacter pylori gastritis
• Ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma may be associated with Chlamydia psittaci
• Cutaneous MALT lymphoma may be associated with Borrelia burgdorferi
• MALT lymphoma of the small intestine and immunoproliferative small intestine disease may be associated with Campylobacter jejuni
• Thyroid MALT may be associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
• Salivary gland MALT may be associated with Sjogren’s syndrome
• SMZL may be more common in those with chronic hepatitis C infection and associated with autoimmune conditions such as haemolytic anaemia and immune

Mantle cell lymphoma

• Gender – men have a greater risk of developing MCL than

Everyone should be encouraged to reduce their modifiable risk factors for cancer, including preventing and/or reducing obesity, alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking and exposure to pesticides, which may be associated with slight increased risk.

Routine screening for lgl is not currently recommended in either the general population or in relatives of people with lgl.

Low-grade lymphomas frequently present with symptoms of gradual onset occurring over many weeks or several months. People can often be asymptomatic at diagnosis, with low-grade lymphomas discovered incidentally after imaging or laboratory tests reveal an abnormality.

The following signs and symptoms should be investigated:

• a lump or mass in any organ
• lymphadenopathy, particularly lymphadenopathy persistent beyond two weeks
• splenomegaly with or without systemic symptoms in the absence of, or after resolution of, any infection
• one or more of these systemic symptoms even in the absence of lymphadenopathy: fever, drenching night sweats, unexplained weight loss, frequent infections
• unexplained cytopenias
• persistent

The presence of multiple signs and symptoms, particularly in combination with other underlying risk factors, suggesting lymphoma should be considered more prominently in the differential diagnosis.

Patients suspected to have lymphoma, based on the clinical assessment during the initial general practitioner visit, should be immediately referred to a specialist for diagnosis.

For patients where there is a lower index of suspicion, further examinations/investigations by the general practitioner should include (but are not limited to):

• a thorough history and physical examination of the skin, all lymph node groups, oral examination for enlarged Waldeyer’s ring, abdominal examination and cardiorespiratory examination
• blood tests to assess organ dysfunction including: full blood count, urea, electrolytes, creatinine, liver function tests, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH); other tests may include beta-2 microglobulin (no laboratory test can exclude these lymphomas)
• imaging of the affected area including ultrasound, chest radiography and computed tomography (CT) scan as appropriate
• biopsy as appropriate, depending on local access (referral to a specialist prior to biopsy may be appropriate where there is a high clinical suspicion for lymphoma)
• fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is generally considered inadequate for diagnosing low-grade lymphomas but in some instances may be an appropriate initial investigation (e.g. in evaluating an enlarged lymph node when a non-haemopoietic neoplasm is strongly suspected (such as head and neck cancer).

Indicators of concern that should lead to prompt referral to a specialist include:

• symptoms or results indicating organ dysfunction and low blood counts
• symptoms that suggest neurological involvement
• markedly elevated LDH
• marked B symptoms (weight loss > 10 per cent, persistent fevers > 38°C, or persistent drenching night sweats).

If a low-grade lymphoma diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy, the general practitioner must refer the patient to a haematologist or medical oncologist with professional expertise in lymphoma management. If the general practitioner considers the likelihood of lymphoma as high based on

the initial consultation, referral for urgent tissue diagnosis and ongoing management at a specialist centre with access to lymphoma multidisciplinary team support should occur.

Patients should be enabled to make informed decisions about their choice of specialist and health service. General practitioners should make referrals in consultation with the patient after considering the clinical care needed, cost implications (see referral choices and informed financial consent on page 9), waiting periods, location and facilities, including discussing the patient’s preference for health care through the public or the private system.

Referral documentation for a suspected low-grade lymphoma should incorporate appropriate documentation to allow accurate triage regarding the level of clinical urgency. Where there is clinical urgency as indicated by the features described (see 2.1.1 Timeframe for general practitioner consultation), contact the relevant specialist for advice and to ensure prompt consultation.

Documentation includes:

• important psychosocial history and relevant past history, family history, current medications and allergies
• results of current clinical investigations (imaging and pathology reports)
• results of all prior relevant investigations including imaging
• notification if an interpreter service is

Many services will reject incomplete referrals, so it is important that referrals comply with all relevant health service criteria.

If access is via online referral, a lack of a hard copy should not delay referral.

The specialist should provide timely communication to the general practitioner about the consultation and should notify the general practitioner if the patient does not attend appointments.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients will need a culturally appropriate referral. To view the optimal care pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the corresponding quick reference guide, visit the Cancer Australia website. Download the consumer resources – Checking for cancer and Cancer from the Cancer Australia website.

The treatment team, after taking a thorough medical history and making a thorough medical examination of the patient, should undertake the following investigations under the guidance of a specialist.

A definitive tissue diagnosis is always required before initiating lymphoma-specific treatment. Biopsy may have been performed before referral. Both fresh and fixed tissue samples should be collected from the tissue biopsy for anatomical pathology and potentially flow cytometry, cytogenetics and gene mutation testing (e.g. TP53 mutation testing for MCL). Additional immunohistochemical stains may in the future provide information that affects therapy (e.g. Ki67 for FL).

Lymph node architecture is a key part of the pathological examination and therefore excisional biopsy is the preferred biopsy method where possible. Where excision biopsy or large incisional biopsy is not possible, a core needle biopsy that samples the maximum number of cores with the largest calibre possible should be considered (NICE 2016).

FNA is not suitable for diagnosing lymphomas (Armitage et al. 2017). However, FNA may be an appropriate investigation in circumstances where excision or needle core biopsy is overly invasive or unfeasible (e.g. mediastinal disease). Construction of tissue blocks from cytological samples may aid diagnosis.

For low-grade lymphomas, surgery is a diagnostic procedure and rarely therapeutic. Therefore, the least invasive surgical method is recommended for diagnosis. If a highly invasive or extensive surgical procedure is being considered, consultation with the lymphoma multidisciplinary team is required.

Pathology specimens should be reviewed by a pathologist with expertise in diagnosing low-grade lymphomas. This should be done at the treatment centre conducting the MDM, before a treatment plan has been instituted.

Additional blood tests – B2M, immunoglobulins, serum protein electrophoresis – are part of the diagnostic work-up.

Evaluate relevant organ function based on history, clinical examination and, where appropriate, laboratory or imaging investigations (cardiac, respiratory, renal, hepatic). Autoimmune screens are sometimes warranted in MZL, specifically autoimmune haemolytic anaemia.

Test for occult or latent infections (e.g. HIV, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis) that may be affected by therapy or pose a risk of reactivation due to the immunosuppressive effects of treatment. For MZL, site-specific infectious disease testing should be performed.

Staging is a critical element in treatment planning and should be clearly documented in the patient’s medical record.

A number of lymphoma prognostic indices have been developed for the different low-grade lymphoma entities and are documented in the relevant guidelines (BSH 2020; Cheah et al., 2019; Dreyling et al. 2017; 2020). It is appropriate to document the relevant low-grade lymphoma prognostic indices at diagnosis, which may assist in the therapeutic approach.

The disease stage based on the 2014 Lugano classification (Cheson 2014) should be determined in all patients according to evidence-based guidelines.

Staging and prognostic assessment for low-grade lymphomas involves the following:

• Clinical examination and history for assessment of B It is particularly important to document the sites and extent of FL involvement that are not easily visible on imaging (e.g. skin, conjunctiva)
• Imaging with PET-CT should be performed for the staging of indolent lymphomas, in particular FL and PET-CT has greater sensitivity than CT in detecting nodal and extranodal involvement and is valuable in identifying true stage I disease amenable to radiation therapy.

Some cases of MZL exhibit low positivity on PET-CT scanning and in these instances subsequent imaging with CT may be preferable

• The decision to do a bone marrow biopsy should be according to evidence-based guidelines for the specific A bone marrow aspirate and trephine is an element of complete staging of most low-grade lymphomas. However, it may not be necessary at diagnosis where the planned initial approach is watch and wait, nor before starting treatment if the results before and/or after treatment will not impact on prognosis or therapeutic approach. The purpose of the bone marrow biopsy should be clearly explained to the patient, especially when performed in a clinical trial where it may not otherwise have been indicated
• For MCL, symptoms that suggest gastrointestinal involvement should be investigated with gastroscopy and colonoscopy
• Endoscopic ultrasound for gastric MZL can be used to characterise gastric wall infiltration and peri-gastric lymph node involvement
• MRI imaging is of value in orbital/ocular adnexa MZL
• Additional tests are recommended to calculate the relevant prognostic scores for each low-grade

Patient performance status is a central factor in cancer care and should be clearly documented in the patient’s medical record.

Performance status should be measured and recorded using an established scale such as the Karnofsky scale or the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale.

Performance status should be recorded for both presentation and pre-morbid assessment. Consider using a validated geriatric assessment tool.

Patients should be encouraged to participate in research or clinical trials where available and appropriate.

Participation in clinical trials, patient registries and tissue banking, where available, is encouraged for patients with low-grade lymphomas. Cross-referral between clinical trials centres should be encouraged to facilitate participation.

For more information visit:

• Cancer Australia
• Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry
• Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group
• ClinTrial Refer
• ClinicalTrials.gov for an international view.

The intent of treatment can be defined as one or more of the following, which are not exclusive:

• curative
• improvement in quality of life and/or longevity with close observation, initiation of local or systemic therapy or a combination
• symptom

The treatment intent should be established in a multidisciplinary setting, documented in the patient’s medical record and conveyed to the patient and carer as appropriate.

The potential benefits need to be balanced against the morbidity and mortality risks of treatment.

The lead clinician should discuss the proposed treatment program, including advantages and disadvantages of each treatment and associated potential side effects with the patient and their carer or family before treatment consent is obtained and begins so the patient can make an informed decision. Supportive care services should also be considered during this decision-making process.

Patients should be asked about their use of (current or intended) complementary therapies (see Appendix D).

Timeframes for starting treatment should be informed by evidence-based guidelines where they exist. The treatment team should recognise that shorter timeframes for appropriate consultations and starting therapy can promote a better experience for patients.

Initiate advance care planning discussions with patients before treatment begins (this could include appointing a substitute decision-maker and completing an advance care directive). Formally involving a palliative care team/service may benefit any patient, so it is important to know and respect each person’s preference (Australian Government Department of Health 2021a).

The current recommended therapeutic approach is based on the type of low-grade lymphoma, clinical risk factors, presence of symptoms and patient perspective (ESMO 2020).

See the following Australian, British and European guidelines for detailed information regarding therapies.

• Front-line management of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Australia 
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: Diagnosis and management: NICE guidelines 
• Newly diagnosed and relapsed follicular lymphoma: ESMO clinical practice guidelines 
• Newly diagnosed and relapsed mantle cell lymphoma: ESMO clinical practice guidelines 

Palliative care is a multidisciplinary approach to symptom management, psychosocial support and assistance in identifying care goals for patients with serious illness and their families.

Early referral to palliative care can improve the quality of life for people with cancer, improve caregiver outcomes and, in some cases, may have survival benefits (Haines 2011; Temel et al. 2010; Zimmermann et al. 2014).

The lead clinician should ensure patients receive timely and appropriate referral to palliative care services. Referral should be based on need rather than prognosis. Emphasise the value of palliative care in improving symptom management and quality of life to patients and their carers at any stage of disease. This is specifically important to explain to patients with a low-grade lymphoma and their families, due to the often lengthy course of the disease.

The ‘Dying to Talk’ resource may help health professionals when initiating discussions with patients about future care needs (see ‘More information’). Ensure that carers and families receive information, support and guidance about their role in palliative care (Palliative Care Australia 2018).

Patients, with support from their family or carer and treating team, should be encouraged to consider appointing a substitute decision-maker and to complete an advance care directive. Refer to step 6 for a more detailed description of managing patients with refractory, relapsed, residual or progressive disease.

More information

These online resources are useful:

• Advance Care Planning Australia 
• Care Search 
• Dying to Talk
• the Palliative Care resource kit 
• Palliative Care Australia (for patients and carers) 

The team should support the patient to participate in research or clinical trials where available and appropriate. Many emerging treatments are only available on clinical trials that may require referral to certain trial centres.

For more information visit:

• • Cancer Australia 
  • Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry 
  • Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group 
  • ClinTrial Refer 
  • Clinical Trials for an international view.

The transition from active treatment to post-treatment care is critical to long-term health. In some cases, people will need ongoing, hospital-based care, and in other cases a shared follow-up care arrangement with their general practitioner may be appropriate. This will vary depending on the type and stage of cancer and needs to be planned.

Shared follow-up care involves the joint participation of specialists and general practitioners in the planned delivery of follow-up and survivorship care. A shared care plan is developed that outlines the responsibilities of members of the care team, the follow-up schedule, triggers for review, plans for rapid access into each setting and agreement regarding format, frequency and triggers for communication.

After completing initial treatment, a designated member of the multidisciplinary team (most commonly nursing or medical staff involved in the patient’s care) should provide the patient with a needs assessment and treatment summary and develop a survivorship care plan in conjunction

with the patient. This should include a comprehensive list of issues identified by all members of the multidisciplinary team involved in the patient’s care and by the patient. These documents are key resources for the patient and their healthcare providers and can be used to improve communication and care coordination.

The treatment summary should cover, but is not limited to:

• the diagnostic tests performed and results
• diagnosis including stage, prognostic or severity score
• tumour characteristics
• treatment received (types and dates)
• current toxicities (severity, management and expected outcomes)
• interventions and treatment plans from other health providers
• potential long-term and late effects of treatment
• supportive care services provided
• follow-up schedule
• contact information for key healthcare

Responsibility for follow-up care should be agreed between the lead clinician, the general practitioner, relevant members of the multidisciplinary team and the patient. This is based on guideline recommendations for follow-up care, as well as the patient’s current and anticipated physical and emotional needs and preferences.

Evidence comparing shared follow-up care and specialised care indicates equivalence in outcomes including recurrence rate, cancer survival and quality of life (Cancer Research in Primary Care 2016).

Ongoing communication between healthcare providers involved in care and a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities is key to effective survivorship care.

In particular circumstances, other models of follow-up care can be safely added such as nurse-led models (Monterosso et al. 2019). Other models of follow-up care can be provided in these locations or by these health professionals:

• in a shared care setting
• in a general practice setting
• by non-medical staff
• by allied health professionals or nurses
• in a non-face-to-face setting (e.g. by telehealth).

A designated member of the team should document the agreed survivorship care plan. The survivorship care plan or chronic disease management plan should support wellness and have a strong emphasis on healthy lifestyle changes such as a balanced diet, a non-sedentary lifestyle, weight management and a mix of aerobic and resistance exercise (COSA 2018; Hayes et al. 2019).

This survivorship care plan should also cover, but is not limited to:

• what medical follow-up is required (surveillance for recurrence or secondary and metachronous cancers, screening and assessment for medical and psychosocial effects)
• model of follow-up care, the health professional providing care and where it will be delivered
• care plans from other health providers to manage the consequences of cancer and cancer treatment
• wellbeing, primary and secondary prevention health recommendations that align with chronic disease management principles
• rehabilitation recommendations
• available support services
• a process for rapid re-entry to specialist medical services for suspected relapsed or progressive

Processes for rapid re-entry to hospital care should be documented and communicated to the patient and relevant stakeholders.

Care in the initial follow-up phase is driven by predicted risks (e.g. the risk of relapse or progression, developing late effects of treatment and psychological issues) as well as individual clinical and supportive care needs. It is important that follow-up care is based on evidence and is consistent with guidelines. Not all people will require ongoing tests or clinical review and may be discharged to general practice follow-up.

The lead clinician should discuss (and general practitioner reinforce) options for follow-up. It is critical for optimal aftercare that the designated member of the treatment team educates the patient about the symptoms of recurrence.

General practitioners (including nurses) can:

• connect patients to local community services and programs
• manage long-term and late effects
• manage comorbidities
• provide wellbeing information and advice to promote self-management
• screen for cancer and non-cancerous

More information

Templates and other resources to help with developing treatment summaries and survivorship care plans are available from these organisations:

• Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre
• Cancer Australia – Principles of Cancer Survivorship
• Cancer Council Australia and states and territories
• Clinical Oncology Society of Australia – Model of Survivorship Care
• eviQ – Cancer survivorship: introductory course
• org.au
• South Australian Cancer Service – Statewide Survivorship Framework resources
• American Society of Clinical Oncology –

Support cancer survivors to participate in research or clinical trials where they are available and appropriate. These might include studies to understand survivors’ issues, to better manage treatment side effects, or to improve models of care and quality of life.

For more information visit:

• Cancer Australia 
• Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry 
• Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group 
• ClinTrial Refer
• Clinical Trials for an international view.

Recurrent disease may be discovered by the patient or by surveillance in the post-treatment period. Symptoms can often present as:

• a lump or mass in any organ
• lymphadenopathy, particularly lymphadenopathy that lasts more than two weeks
• splenomegaly with or without systemic symptoms in the absence of, or after resolution of, any infection
• one or more of these systemic symptoms even in the absence of lymphadenopathy: fever, drenching night sweats, unexplained weight loss, frequent infections, unexplained

Managing residual or relapsed disease is complex and should therefore involve all the appropriate specialties in a multidisciplinary team including palliative care where appropriate. From the time of diagnosis, the team should offer patients appropriate psychosocial care, supportive care, advance care planning and symptom-related interventions as part of their routine care. The approach should be personalised to meet the patient’s individual needs, values and preferences. The full complement of supportive care measures as described throughout the optimal care pathway and in Appendices A, B and C should be offered to assist patients and their families and carers to cope. These measures should be updated as the patient’s circumstances change.

Survivorship care should be considered and offered at an early stage. Many people live with advanced cancer for many months or years. As survival is improving in many patients, survivorship issues should be considered as part of routine care. Health professionals should therefore be ready to change and adapt treatment strategies according to disease status, prior treatment tolerance and toxicities and the patient’s quality of life, in addition to the patient’s priorities and life plans.

In a suspected relapse, consider conducting a biopsy to confirm the relapse. Also consider whether there are clinical features to suggest transformation to high-grade lymphoma or involvement by a different lymphoma or neoplasm. In the event of a re-biopsy, the appropriate tissue diagnostic and prognostic investigations can be undertaken again as necessary. Molecular tests may in the near future be able to guide use of novel therapies (e.g. EZH2 mutation in FL).

Re-staging of relapsed or refractory disease should be performed with CT-PET scan, or if indolent disease was previously PET-negative, with CT scan. Consider a repeat bone marrow biopsy to evaluate the cause of cytopenias.

In managing people with low-grade lymphomas, treatment may include these options according to the British Society of Haematology (2020) and ESMO guidelines general concepts:

• first: assess performance status and comorbidities
• options:
  • asymptomatic relapse – watch and wait
  • localised relapse – consider radiation therapy
  • widespread and systemic recurrence – consider systemic therapy +/− autologous transplantation
• pre-screen patient for any currently recruiting or imminent clinical trial
• consider palliation
• treatment decision: collaboration between patient and specialist.

If there is an indication that a patient’s cancer has returned, care should be provided under the guidance of a treating specialist. Each patient should be evaluated to determine if referral to the original multidisciplinary team is necessary. Often referral back to the original multidisciplinary team will not be necessary unless there are obvious aspects of care involving different therapeutic and supportive care disciplines not otherwise accessible. The multidisciplinary team may include new members such as palliative care specialists.

Treatment will depend on the location, extent of recurrent or residual disease, previous management and the patient’s preferences.

In managing people with a low-grade lymphoma, treatment may include these options:

• The choice of systemic salvage treatment generally depends on the efficacy of previous regimens and the duration since the end of the prior If fewer than 24 months have elapsed since the prior treatment, a treatment regimen containing different, non-cross-resistant agents is optimal
• With additional immunosuppressive effects of therapy, the risk of opportunistic infection Prophylaxis is important with antimicrobials and/or immunoglobulin replacement as appropriate. Similarly, consider G-CSF as a primary or secondary prophylaxis for periods of neutropenia.

Follicular and marginal zone lymphomas (ESMO 2020)

• Asymptomatic patients may be observed (watch and wait).
• Radiation therapy may be considered for those with localised relapse, to defer systemic immuno-chemotherapy.
• Low-dose radiation therapy should be considered to palliate symptomatic sites of
• If systemic treatment is required, refer to Australian, British and European
• Consolidation of chemoimmunotherapy with autologous transplantation may be considered in fit patients.
• With many promising novel therapies, such as BTK inhibitors, and bi-specific antibody and CAR T-cell therapies, screening of patients for clinical trials are strongly

Mantle cell lymphoma

• At relapse, a BTK inhibitor should be considered as a priority
• Enrolment in a clinical trial is strongly
• In younger patients with adequate performance status and comorbidities, consider reduced- intensity allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell

Advance care planning is important for all patients with a cancer diagnosis but especially those with relapsed disease. Patients should be encouraged to think and talk about their healthcare values and preferences with family or carers, appoint a substitute decision-maker and consider developing an advance care directive to convey their preferences for future health care in the event they become unable to communicate their wishes (Australian Government Department of Health 2021a).

More information

Refer to section 4.3 ‘More information’ for links to resources.

Refer patients and carers to Advance Care Planning Australia  or to the Advance Care Planning National Phone Advisory Service on 1300 208 582.

Early referral to palliative care can improve the quality of life for people with cancer and in some cases may be associated with survival benefits (Haines 2011; Temel et al. 2010; Zimmermann

et al. 2014). The treatment team should emphasise the value of palliative care in improving symptom management and quality of life to patients and their carers. Refer to section 4.3 for more detailed information.

The lead clinician should ensure timely and appropriate referral to palliative care services. Referral to palliative care services should be based on the patient’s need and potential for benefit, not prognosis.

More information

Refer to the end of section 4.3 ‘Palliative care’ for links to resources.

Novel therapies are substantially improving the overall survival and quality of life for patients with low-grade lymphomas. The treatment team should be aware of and support the patient to take part in research and clinical trials where available and appropriate.

For more information visit:

• Cancer Australia 
• Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry
• Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group
• ClinTrial Refer 
• Clinical Trials for an international view.

If the treatment team does not include a palliative care member, the lead clinician should consider referring the patient to palliative care services, with the general practitioner’s engagement. This may include inpatient palliative unit access (as required).

The multidisciplinary team may consider seeking additional expertise from these professionals:

• clinical psychologist
• clinical nurse specialist or practitioner
• social worker
• palliative medicine specialist
• pain specialist
• pastoral or spiritual carer
• bereavement counsellor
• music therapist
• art therapist
• cultural expert
• Canteen for children of parents with cancer 

The team might also recommend that patients access these services:

• home- and community-based care
• specialist community palliative care workers
• community

If the patient does not already have an advance care directive in place, a designated member of the treatment team should encourage them to develop one in collaboration with their family or carer (Australian Government Department of Health 2021a).

It is essential for the treatment team to consider the appropriate place of care, the patient’s preferred place of death and the support needed for the patient, their family and carers.

The treatment team should also ensure that carers and families receive the information, support and guidance about their role according to their needs and wishes (Palliative Care Australia 2018).

More information

The treatment team can refer patients and carers to these resources:

• Palliative Care Australia
• Advance Care Planning Australia 

Clinical trials may help improve palliative care and in managing a patient’s symptoms of advanced cancer (Cancer Council Victoria 2019). The treatment team should support the patient to participate in research and clinical trials where available and appropriate.

For more information visit:

• • Cancer Australia 
  • Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry 
  • Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group 
  • ClinTrial Refer 
  • Clinical Trialsfor an international view.

Cancer is the third leading cause of burden of disease for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. While Australia’s cancer survival rates are among the best in the world, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to experience a different pattern of cancer incidence and significant disparities in cancer outcomes compared with non-Indigenous Australians.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, health and connection to land, culture, community and identity are intrinsically linked. Health encompasses a whole-of-life view and includes a cyclical concept of life–death–life.

The distinct epidemiology of cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and unique connection to culture, highlight the need for a specific optimal care pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer. Ensuring this pathway is culturally safe and supportive is vital to tackling the disparities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Published in 2018, the Optimal care pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer provides guidance to health practitioners and service planners on optimal care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer across the cancer continuum.

In addition to the key principles underpinning tumour-specific pathways, these are the key concepts that are fundamental to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health:

• providing a holistic approach to health and wellbeing
• providing a culturally appropriate and culturally safe service
• acknowledging the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• understanding the social determinants and cultural determinants of health (Cancer Australia 2015).

To view the Optimal care pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer, visit the Cancer Australia website . To view the consumer resources – Checking for cancer and Cancer, visit the Cancer Australia website 

For people from culturally diverse backgrounds in Australia, a cancer diagnosis can come with additional complexities, particularly when English proficiency is poor. In many languages there is not a direct translation of the word ‘cancer’, which can make communicating vital information difficult. Perceptions of cancer and related issues can differ greatly in people from culturally

diverse backgrounds and this can affect their understanding and decision making after a cancer diagnosis. In addition to different cultural beliefs, when English language is limited there is potential for miscommunication of important information and advice, which can lead to increased stress and anxiety for patients.

A professionally trained interpreter (not a family member or friend) should be made available when communicating with people with limited English proficiency. Navigation of the Australian healthcare system can pose problems for those with a non-Anglo culture, and members of the treatment teams should pay particular attention to supporting these patients.

The Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre has developed a glossary of more than 700 cancer terms in nine different languages. The multilingual glossary has been designed as a resource for professional translators, interpreters and bilingual health professionals working in the cancer

field. The glossary is a unique tool that enables language professionals with access to accurate, consistent and culturally appropriate terminology.

Visit the Peter Mac website to see the glossary.

Disability, which can be physical, intellectual or psychological, may have existed before the cancer diagnosis or may be new in onset (occurring due to the cancer treatment or incidentally). Adjusting to life with a disability adds another challenge to cancer care and survivorship.

Several barriers prevent people with disabilities from accessing timely and effective health care (AIHW 2017):

• physical limitations
• competing health needs
• the trauma of undergoing invasive procedures
• potential barriers associated with obtaining informed consent
• failure to provide assistance with communication
• lack of information
• discriminatory attitudes among healthcare

In caring for people with disabilities and a cancer diagnosis, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare disability flag should be used at the point of admittance to correctly identify and meet the additional requirements of a person with disability. Facilities should actively consider access requirements, and health practitioners should make reasonable adjustments where required.

Patients aged between seven and 65 years who have a permanent or significant disability may be eligible for support or funding through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (National Disability Insurance Agency 2018). More information can be found on the NDIS website. Patients aged 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people) may be eligible for subsidised support and services through aged care services. An application to determine eligibility can be completed online over the phone. More information can be found at the My Aged Care website .

More information

‘Talking End of Life’ is a resource that shows how to teach people with intellectual disability about end of life. It is designed for disability support workers but is also helpful for others including families, health professionals and educators.

To view the resource, visit the Talking End of Life website <www.caresearch.com.au/tel/tabid/4881/Default.aspx>.

Planning and delivering appropriate cancer care for older people can present a number of challenges. This could also be true for frail people or those experiencing comorbidities. Effective communication between oncology and geriatrics departments will help facilitate best practice care, which takes into account physiological age, complex comorbidities, risk of adverse events and drug interactions, as well as the implications of cognitive impairment on suitability of treatment and consent (Steer et al. 2009).

At a national interdisciplinary workshop convened by the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia,

it was recommended that people over the age of 70 undergo some form of geriatric assessment, in line with international guidelines (COSA 2013; palliAGED 2018). Screening tools can be used to identify those patients in need of a comprehensive geriatric assessment (Decoster et al. 2015).

This assessment can be used to help determine life expectancy and treatment tolerance and guide appropriate referral for multidisciplinary intervention that may improve outcomes (Wildiers et al. 2014).

Frailty is not captured through traditional measures of performance status (e.g. ECOG) and includes assessment in the domains of:

• function
• comorbidity
• presence of geriatric syndromes
• nutrition
• polypharmacy
• cognition
• emotional status
• social

In recent years, adolescent and young adult oncology has emerged as a distinct field due to lack of progress in survival and quality-of-life outcomes.

The significant developmental change that occurs during this life stage complicates a diagnosis of cancer, often leading to unique physical, social and emotional effects for young people at the time of diagnosis and throughout the cancer journey (Smith et al. 2012).

In caring for young people with cancer, akin to the comorbidities that require specific care in the older cancer population, the treatment team needs to pay careful attention to promoting normal development (COSA 2014). This requires personalised assessments and management involving a multidisciplinary, disease-specific, developmentally targeted approach that adheres to the following principles:

• understanding the developmental stages of adolescence and supporting normal adolescent health and development alongside cancer management
• understanding and supporting the rights of young people
• communication skills and information delivery that are appropriate to the young person
• meeting the needs of all involved, including the young person, their carers and their family
• working with educational institutions and workplaces
• considering survivorship and palliative care

An oncology team caring for an adolescent or young adult with cancer should be able to demonstrate these specific areas of expertise:

• be able to ensure access to expert adolescent and young adult health providers who have knowledge specific to the biomedical and psychosocial needs of the population
• understand the biology and current management of the disease in the adolescent and young adult age group
• consider participating in research and clinical trials for each patient
• engage in proactive discussion and management of fertility preservation, late effects of treatment, ongoing need for contraception, and psychosocial and psychosexual needs
• provide treatment in an environment that is friendly to adolescents and young

In general, people from lower socioeconomic groups are at greater risk of poor health, have higher rates of illness, disability and death, and live shorter lives than those from higher socioeconomic groups (AIHW 2016). People experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage are less likely to participate in screening programs, more likely to be obese, less likely to exercise and much more likely to smoke, which are all risk factors for cancer. In 2010–2014 age-standardised cancer incidence rates were higher in the lowest socioeconomic areas compared with the highest socioeconomic areas for all cancers combined (Cancer Australia 2019b).

Socioeconomic status and low health literacy are closely correlated. Therefore, effective communication with patients and carers is particularly important given the prevalence of low health literacy in Australia (estimated at 60 per cent of Australian adults) (ACSQHC 2014).

Consideration should be taken for cancer patients experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage to reduce their risk of being underserved for health care.

A diagnosis of cancer may present additional challenges to people who have pre-existing chronic mental health or psychiatric concerns, resulting in exacerbation of their mental health symptoms. This may include heightened anxiety, worsening depression or thoughts of self-harm.

As poor adjustment and coping can affect treatment decisions, people who are known to have a mental health diagnosis need psychosocial assessment in the oncology setting to formulate a plan for ongoing support throughout treatment.

Psychosocial support can assist with challenges in communicating with health professionals, enhance understanding of the treatment journey, ensure capacity for consent to treatment options and improve compliance with treatment requests. A referral for psychosocial support from a health professional to the psycho-oncology team can ensure these patients are provided with targeted interventions or referrals to community-based services that may mitigate problems associated with the impacts of social isolation that frequently accompany chronic mental ill-health.

Many patients with chronic mental health problems may be well known to external service providers. Psycho-oncology health professionals can form meaningful partnerships with existing service providers to optimise patient care throughout treatment and beyond.

Drug use disorders fall within the area of mental health conditions. People who are opiate dependent may have specific and individual requirements regarding pain management and their own preference for type of opiate prescribed or used.

People who identify as sexually or gender diverse may have unique needs following a cancer diagnosis. Sexually or gender diverse identities include (but are not limited to) people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. There is no universally agreed upon initialism to describe this community, with other terms such as queer/questioning (Q), intersex (I), asexual (A) and pansexual

(P) often included, as well as a plus symbol (+) indicating inclusivity of other identities not explicitly mentioned. For the purposes of this document, this community is referred to as LGBTQI+.

Sexual orientation and gender identity are relevant across the entire spectrum of cancer care, from prevention to survivorship and end-of-life care. LGBTQI+ people are less likely to participate in cancer screening, and some segments of the LGBTQI+ community exhibit elevated rates of specific cancer risk factors – for example, higher rates of smoking and alcohol use. Regarding treatment, there may be unique factors relevant to LGBTQI+ people that may affect decision making. Additionally, the LGBTQI+ population experiences higher rates of anxiety, depression and

stressful life circumstances, and may be at risk of inferior psychosocial outcomes following a cancer diagnosis. LGBTQI+ people are also more likely to be estranged from their families of origin, and for older people, less likely to have adult children who may provide support and care.

Barriers to care for LGBTQI+ people include past negative interactions with healthcare systems, experiences or fear of discrimination and harassment in healthcare settings, assumptions of cisgender/heterosexual identity, lack of recognition or exclusion of same-sex partners from care, and a lack of relevant supportive care and information resources.

To provide safe and appropriate care for LGBTQI+ people with cancer, healthcare providers should:

• display environmental cues to show an inclusive and safe setting for LGBTQI+ patients
• avoid assumptions about the sexual orientation or gender identity of patients and their partners
• facilitate positive disclosure of sexual orientation or gender identity
• include same-sex/gender partners and families of choice in care
• be aware of relevant supportive care and information resources
• provide non-judgemental, patient-centred

Supportive care in cancer refers to the following five domains:

• the physical domain, which includes a wide range of physical symptoms that may be acute, relatively short lived or ongoing, requiring continuing interventions or rehabilitation
• the psychological domain, which includes a range of issues related to the patient’s mental health wellbeing and personal relationships
• the social domain, which includes a range of social and practical issues that will affect the patient, carer and family such as the need for emotional support, maintaining social networks and financial concerns
• the information domain, which includes access to information about cancer and its treatment, recovery and survivorship support services and the health system overall
• the spiritual domain, which focuses on the patient’s changing sense of self and challenges to their underlying beliefs and existential concerns (Palliative Care Victoria 2019).

Fitch’s (2000) model of supportive care recognises the variety and level of intervention required at each critical point as well as the need to be specific to the individual patient (Figure A1). The model targets the type and level of intervention required to meet patients’ supportive care needs.

Figure A1: Fitch’s tiered approach to supportive care

Consider a referral to a psychologist, psychiatrist, pastoral/spiritual care practitioner, social worker, specialist nurse or a relevant community-based program. For patients with low-grade lymphomas, referral to one or more of these services should be strongly considered at diagnosis (including for patients embarking on a ‘watch and wait’ approach), when starting treatment, with any subsequent treatments and for post-treatment survivorship support.

The following is a general checklist for initiation of referral, noting that due to the long trajectory of survival with low-grade lymphomas, early referral may put in place tools for patients to develop positive coping strategies that are useful at many timepoints in their disease:

• displaying emotional cues such as tearfulness, distress that requires specialist intervention, avoidance or withdrawal
• being preoccupied with or dwelling on thoughts about cancer and death
• displaying fears about the treatment process or the changed goals of their treatment
• displaying excessive fears about cancer progression or recurrence
• worrying about loss associated with their daily function, dependence on others and loss of dignity
• becoming isolated from family and friends and withdrawing from company and activities that they previously enjoyed
• feeling hopeless and helpless about the effect that cancer is having on their life and the disruption to their life plans
• struggling to communicate with family and loved ones about the implications of their cancer diagnosis and treatment
• experiencing changes in sexual intimacy, libido and function
• struggling with the diagnosis of recurrent disease
• having difficulties quitting smoking (refer to Quitline on 13 7848) or with other drug and alcohol use
• having difficulties transitioning to palliative

Additional considerations that may arise for the multidisciplinary team include:

• support for the carer – encourage referrals to psychosocial support from a social worker, psychologist or general practitioner
• referral to an exercise physiologist or physiotherapist as a therapeutic approach to prevent and manage psychological health
• referral to wellness-after-cancer programs to provide support, information and offer

Complementary therapies may be used together with conventional medical treatments to support and enhance quality of life and wellbeing. They do not aim to cure the patient’s cancer. Instead, they are used to help control symptoms such as pain and fatigue (Cancer Council Australia 2019).

The lead clinician or health professional involved in the patient’s care should discuss the patient’s use (or intended use) of complementary therapies not prescribed by the multidisciplinary team to assess safety and efficacy and to identify any potential toxicity or drug interactions.

The lead clinician should seek a comprehensive list of all complementary and alternative medicines being taken and explore the patient’s reason for using these therapies and the evidence base.

A transparent and honest discussion that is free from judgement should be encouraged.

While some complementary therapies are supported by strong evidence, others are not. For such therapies, the lead clinician should discuss their potential benefits and use them alongside conventional therapies (NHMRC 2014).

If the patient expresses an interest in using complementary therapies, the lead clinician should consider referring patients to health providers within the multidisciplinary team who have expertise in the field of complementary and alternative therapies (e.g. a clinical pharmacist, dietitian or psychologist) to assist them to reach an informed decision. Costs of such approaches should

be part of the discussion with the patient and considered in the context of evidence of benefit.

The lead clinician should assure patients who use complementary therapies that they can still access a multidisciplinary team review and encourage full disclosure about therapies being used.

More information

• See Cancer Australia’s position statement on complementary and alternative therapies
• See the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia’s position statement Use of complementary and alternative medicine by cancer patients 

Advance Care Planning Australia

Advance Care Planning Australia provides national advance care planning resources for individuals, families, health professional and service providers. Resources include a national advisory service, information resources, a legal forms hub and education modules.

• Telephone: 1300 208 582
• Website

Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre

The Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre has developed information resources and events to help people move from initial treatment to post treatment and beyond, including those receiving maintenance treatments. While they do not provide clinical advice, they connect with a range of providers to enable improved care.

• Telephone: (03) 8559 6220
• Website

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has developed a resource for patients and carers explaining the coordination of care that patients should receive from their health service during cancer treatment. The resource is called What to expect when receiving medication for cancer care.

Beyond Blue

Beyond Blue provides information about depression, anxiety and related disorders, as well as about available treatment and support services.

• Telephone: 1300 22 4636
• Website

Cancer Australia

Cancer Australia provides information for consumers, carers and their families including printed resources and video content.

• Website

Cancer Council’s Cancer Information and Support Service

Cancer Council 13 11 20 is a confidential telephone support service available to anyone affected by cancer. This service acts as a gateway to evidence-based documented, practical and emotional support available through Cancer Council services and other community organisations. Calls will be answered by a nurse or other oncology professional who can provide information relevant to a patient’s or carer’s situation. Health professionals can also access this service.

• Telephone: 13 11 20 – Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm (some states have extended hours)
• Website

Cancer Council’s Cancer Connect

Cancer Connect is a free and confidential telephone peer support service that connects someone who has cancer with a specially trained volunteer who has had a similar cancer experience.

A Connect volunteer can listen with understanding and share their experiences and ways of coping. They can provide practical information, emotional support and hope. Many people newly diagnosed with cancer find this one-to-one support very beneficial.

For more information on Cancer Connect call Cancer Council on 13 11 20.

Canteen

Canteen helps adolescents, young adults and parents to cope with cancer in their family. Canteen offers individual support services, peer support services and a youth cancer service, as well as books, resources and useful links.

• Telephone: 1800 835 932 to talk to a health professional about information and support for young people or 1800 226 833 for other enquiries
• Website

Clinical trial information

For a collection of clinical trials available in Australia see the following sources of information:

• Cancer Australia
• Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry
• Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group 
• ClinTrial Refer 
• Clinical Trials for an international view.

CanEAT pathway

A guide to optimal cancer nutrition for people with cancer, carers and health professionals.

• Education website
• Patient website 

Guides to best cancer care

The short guides help patients, carers and families understand the optimal cancer care that should be provided at each step. They include optimal timeframes within which tests or procedures should be completed, prompt lists to support patients to understand what might happen at each step of their cancer journey and to consider what questions to ask, and provide information to help patients and carers communicate with health professionals.

The guides are located on an interactive web portal, with downloadable PDFs available in multiple languages.

• Website

Look Good, Feel Better

A free national community service program, run by the Cancer Patients Foundation, dedicated to teaching cancer patients how to manage the appearance-related side effects caused by treatment for any type of cancer.

• Telephone: 1800 650 960
• Website

Leukaemia Foundation

The Leukaemia Foundation provides specialist support, funds leading-edge research and advocates for Australians diagnosed with blood cancer. The foundation guides patients and their loved ones through the emotional, physical and psychosocial challenges of a blood cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship.

The foundation’s team of qualified health professionals can answer questions, talk through concerns and connect patients to blood cancer support groups. The team can also help with practical concerns such as accommodation close to treatment, transport to appointments and financial assistance.

• Telephone: 1800 620 420
• Website 

Lymphoma Australia

Lymphoma Australia helps patients and their families to understand their diagnosis and treatment options. Lymphoma Australia is the only incorporated charity in Australia dedicated to solely providing education,

support, awareness and advocacy initiatives for Australians touched by lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Lymphoma Australia provides information packs to patients and hospitals and host education days and webinars to help people better understand lymphoma. Its lymphoma specialist nurses deliver an essential service to patients and cancer nurses. Lymphoma Australia nurses can help navigate the lymphoma journey and connect patients with others and the appropriate support networks.

• • Lymphoma nurse support line: 1800 953 081
  • Website
  • Email

Quitline

Quitline is a confidential, evidence-based telephone counselling service. Highly trained Quitline counsellors use behaviour change techniques and motivational interviewing over multiple calls to help people plan, make and sustain a quit attempt.

Quitline is a culturally inclusive service for all, and Aboriginal counsellors are also available. Health professionals can refer patients to Quitline online or via fax.

• Telephone: 13 7848
• Website or the relevant website in your state or territory.

Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre

The Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre provides expertise in survivorship care, information, support and education. Its purpose is to support and enable optimal survivorship care.

• Telephone: (03) 8559 6220
• Website 

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has developed a guide for clinicians containing evidence-based strategies to support clinicians to understand and fulfil their responsibilities to cancer patients.

This guide is particularly relevant to Steps 3 to 6 of the optimal care pathway. The guide is titled NSQHS Standards user guide for medication management in cancer care for clinicians

Cancer Australia

Information for health providers including guidelines, cancer learnings, cancer guides, reports, resources, videos, posters and pamphlets.

• Website 

Cancer Council Australia

Information on prevention, research, treatment and support provided by Australia’s peak independent cancer authority.

• Website 

CanEAT pathway

A guide to optimal cancer nutrition for people with cancer, carers and health professionals.

• Education website
• Patient website 

eviQ

A clinical information resource providing health professionals with current evidence-based, peer-maintained, best practice cancer treatment protocols and information relevant to the Australian clinical environment.

• Website 

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation

The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) is the national leadership body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Australia. NACCHO provides advice and guidance to the Australian

Government on policy and budget matters and advocates for community-developed solutions that contribute to the quality of life and improved health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

• Website 

National Health and Medical Research Council

Information on clinical practice guidelines, cancer prevention and treatment.

• Website 

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 Leukaemia Foundation website and from the Cancer Council website.

This edition published in October 2021. ISBN: 978-0-6453299-5-7

Leukaemia Foundation and Australian Government Department of Health 2021, Optimal care pathway for people with low-grade lymphomas, 1st edn, Leukaemia Foundation of Australia.

Enquiries about this publication can be sent to bloodcancerpartnerships@leukaemia.org.au.

Professor Judith Trotman (Co Chair), Haematologist, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, University of Sydney

Dr Nicole Wong Doo (Co Chair), Haematologist, Concord Repatriation and General Hospital, University of Sydney

Rebecca Beck, Lymphoma Care Nurse

Associate Professor Belinda A Campbell, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and University of Melbourne

Associate Professor Tara Cochrane, Haematologist, Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Queensland, Griffiths University Queensland

Serg Duchini, Consumer Representative, Chair, Lymphoma Australia

Associate Professor Kenneth Lee, Anatomical Pathologist, NSW Health Pathology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, University of Sydney Medical School

Dr Robert Menz, General Practitioner, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

Sharon Millman, Chief Executive Officer, Lymphoma Australia

Dr Anthoulla Mohamudally, Palliative Care Physician, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney

Professor Stephen Opat, Haematologist, Monash Health, Clinical Professor Monash University, Australasian Lymphoma and Related Disease Registry

Dr Emma Palfreyman, Haematologist, Royal Darwin Hospital

Kerry Wagland, Registered Psychologist, Headway Health, ICON Cancer Centre

Associate Professor Christina Brown, Haematologist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

Professor Chan Cheah, Haematologist, Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital, Pathwest,

Linear Clinical Research, Clinical Professor

of Haematology, University of Western Australia, Blood Cancer Research WA, Australasian Lymphoma Alliance

Clinical Associate Professor Anna Johnston, Haematologist, Royal Hobart Hospital, University of Tasmania

Dr Matthew Ku, Haematologist and Lymphoma Lead, St Vincent’s Hospital, University of Melbourne

Medical colleges, peak organisations and government representatives

Associate Professor Peter Mollee (Chair), Haematologist Princess Alexandra Hospital, Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group, Associate Professor, University of Queensland

Australian Capital Territory Health Allied Health Professions Australia

Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology/Oncology Group

Australia and New Zealand Transplant and Cellular Therapies

Australasian Association of Nuclear Medicine Specialists

Australasian College of Emergency Medicine Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group

Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Care

Australian College of Nursing

Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing Australian Medical Association

Beyond Blue Cancer Australia

Cancer Council of Australia Cancer Council Victoria Cancer Institute NSW

Cancer Nurses Society of Australia Canteen

Clinical Oncology Society of Australia

Haematology Society of Australia & New Zealand

Launceston General Hospital Leukaemia Foundation Lymphoma Australia

Medical Oncology Group of Australia Myeloma Australia

Northern Territory Department of Health Palliative Care Australia

Private Cancer Physicians of Australia Queensland Health

Rare Cancers Australia Redkite

Royal Australasian College of Physicians

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists

Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia South Australia Health

Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

Victorian Department of Health

Western Australia Cancer and Palliative Care Network

Dr Caroline M Bateman, Paediatric Haematologist and Oncologist, Cancer Centre for Children, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead

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

Dr Peter Diamond, Project Secretariat, Leukaemia Foundation

Associate Professor Michael Dickinson, Haematologist, Lymphoma Australia, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne

Associate Professor Anoop Enjeti, Haematologist, John Hunter Hospital, Senior Staff Haematologist, Calvary Mater Hospital, Conjoint Associate Professor, University of Newcastle

Emily Forrest, Project Secretariat, Leukaemia Foundation

Fiona Haigh, Project Secretariat, Leukaemia Foundation

Deborah Henderson, Consumer Representative

Professor Tim Hughes, Haematologist, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hospital

Professor Steven Lane, Haematologist, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QIMR

Berghofer Medical Research Institute, University of Queensland

Caroline Nehill, Director National Cancer Control, Cancer Australia

Professor H. Miles Prince AM, Haematologist, Epworth Healthcare and Haematologist

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Professor Hang Quach, Haematologist, University of Melbourne, St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne

Catriona Rafael, Project Secretariat, Leukaemia Foundation

Professor Andrew Roberts AM, Haematologist and Bone Marrow Transplant Physician, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute

Professor John Seymour AM, Haematologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne

Delaine Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group

Professor Judith Trotman, Haematologist, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, University of Sydney

Megan Varlow, Director Cancer Control Policy, Cancer Council Australia

Dr Nicole Wong Doo, Haematologist, Concord Repatriation and General Hospital, University of Sydney

Our thanks also to the Blood Cancer Taskforce, which recommended the development of optimal care pathways for all the major blood cancer subtypes as part of the National Strategic Action Plan for Blood Cancer (2020). The National Action Plan was commissioned by the Federal Government and developed by the Blood Cancer Taskforce, with support from the Leukaemia Foundation.

Not all patients with lgl require ongoing input from a multidisciplinary team. Where required, the multidisciplinary team may include the following members:

• care coordinator (as determined by multidisciplinary team members)*
• haematologist*
• infectious diseases physician*
• nurse (with appropriate expertise or under the supervision of nurses with appropriate expertise)*
• pathologist including pathologist with molecular genetic expertise*
• pharmacist*
• Aboriginal health practitioner, Indigenous liaison officer or remote general practitioner
• fertility specialist
• spiritual/pastoral care
• clinical trials coordinator
• dentist
• dietitian
• exercise physiologist
• general practitioner
• genetic counsellor
• geriatrician
• nuclear medicine physician
• occupational therapist
• palliative care specialist
• physiotherapist
• psychiatrist
• psychologist
• radiation oncologist
• radiologist/imaging specialists
• social worker
• spiritual/pastoral

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