Optimal Cancer Care Pathways

The Optimal Cancer Care Pathways have been endorsed by the National Cancer Expert Reference Group (NCERG), Cancer Australia and Cancer Council Australia and are being supported in all states and territories to ensure consistent, optimal cancer care across Australia.

What are the Optimal Cancer Care Pathways?

Optimal Cancer Care Pathways are national guides to the best cancer care for cancer types. Optimal Cancer Care Pathways detail key principles and recommendations for optimal care at critical points in the cancer continuum, from prevention and identification through to survivorship or end-of-life care.

How are Cancer Care Pathways used?

Detailed pathways, as well as quick reference guides and patient guides, have been developed for 15 cancer types with more to be developed.

Optimal Cancer Care Pathways can be used by health services and professionals as a tool to identify gaps in current services and inform quality improvement initiatives across all aspects of the care pathway.

Using the pathways will help plan and coordinate service delivery by identifying the investigations, therapies, clinical expertise, facilities and support needed at each key point of the patient journey and the resources required to support and care for the patient.

Pathways can be used by clinicians and health professionals to promote multidisciplinary discussion, as well as to support collaboration and communication with people affected by cancer..

Optimal Cancer Care Pathways

  • Acute myeloid leukaemia
  • Lung cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Melanoma
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Non-melanoma skin cancer
  • Endometrial cancer
  • Oesphagogastric cancer
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • High-grade glioma cancer
  • Prostate cancer

The Optimal National Care Pathways can be accessed on the Cancer Council website

Exclusions

The Optimal Cancer Care Pathways take the place of the South Australian Cancer Care Pathways except for the following: