The Optimal Care Pathways outline consistent, safe, high-quality and evidence-based care for people with cancer. Relevant to every step along the cancer continuum, the Optimal Care Pathways aim to improve patient outcomes for people affected by cancer, and ensure that Australians diagnosed with cancer receive the best care irrespective of where they live or receive cancer treatment.
Key principles for optimal cancer care are set out for each step of the patient journey from prevention through to survivorship and end of life care, and optimal timeframes within which tests or procedures should be completed.
National endorsement
The Optimal Care Pathways are endorsed by Cancer Australia, all states and territories and Cancer Council Australia.
For health professionals and health services
The Optimal Care Pathways are available in their full version or as a Quick Reference Guide (summary version):
- Optimal care pathway for people with bowel cancer
- Optimal care pathway for people with bowel cancer: Quick Reference Guide
For people affected by cancer
Consumer versions of the Optimal Care Pathways are available to help patients and their families and carers to understand the optimal cancer care that should be provided from diagnosis, through to treatment and beyond. They are available in multiple languages.
The Guides to Best Cancer Care 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 experience and to consider what questions to ask; and provide information to help patients and carers communicate with health professionals.
Optimal care pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer
The Optimal care pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer has been developed with the aim of reducing disparities and improving outcomes and experiences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer. The Optimal Care Pathway provides guidance to health practitioners and service planners on optimal care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer, across the cancer continuum. It complements the best practice information provided in the cancer-specific pathways.
The Optimal care pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer is available in a full version and Quick Reference Guide (summary version).
For health professionals and health services
- Optimal care pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer (PDF 3.09 MB)
- Optimal care pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer: Quick Reference Guide (PDF 160.91 KB)
Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and families affected by cancer
- Our Mob and Cancer
- Checking for cancer – what to expect (PDF 4.07 MB)
- Cancer – what to expect (PDF 4.92 MB)
Clinical practice guidelines for bowel cancer
- Cancer Council Australia Colorectal Cancer Guidelines Working Party, Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, early detection and management of colorectal cancer (2017)
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (US) (2022), Clinical practice guidelines in oncology: rectal cancer
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (US) (2022), Clinical practice guidelines in oncology: colon cancer
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK) (2021), Colorectal cancer
- European Society for Medical Oncology, Clinical practice guidelines: gastrointestinal cancers
- eviQ General practitioner referral guidelines for cancer genetics assessment
