Optimal Cancer Care Pathways

The Optimal Cancer Care Pathways outline the best cancer care for specific tumour types.

The pathways are designed to promote a full understanding of the patient journey in order to foster quality cancer care from the point of diagnosis.

Each pathway identifies specific points and the recommended care at each stage.

Both detailed and quick reference guides, as well as what to expect guides, have been developed.

Clinical Optimal Cancer Care Pathways

Quick Reference Guides

Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

This Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people complements the best practice information provided in the tumour-specific pathways to facilitate the delivery of culturally safe and competent care. It outlines the aspects of the cancer care pathway that need to be responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer.

Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who might have cancer

What to expect guides for Patients

A lot can happen in a hurry when you’re diagnosed with cancer. The guides below can help you make sense of what should happen. They will help you with what questions to ask your health professionals to make sure you receive the best care at every step.

Many of the What to expect guides are also available in Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, Greek, Italian, Hindi and Tagalog. Scroll to the bottom of the guide to see if it is available in your language.

Interactive Web Portal for Consumers

The consumers OCP’s have been developed into an interactive web portal. Visit www.cancerpathways.org.au 

For more information regarding the current Pathways, please call Cancer Council 13 11 20

For General Practitioners and Practice Managers

To support you, your practice, and your patients, you can:

• Refer newly diagnosed cancer patients to www.cancerpathways.org.au and print and provide them with a copy of the relevant tumour stream ‘what to expect’ consumer guides.
• Import the GP quick reference guides and consumer version PDF’s into your GP software. Find how to import the OCP’s into your software.

For more information regarding the current pathways, or to send feedback, please email optimalcare.pathways@cancervic.org.au