Optimal care pathway for women with cervical cancer
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 women with cervical cancer
- Optimal care pathway for women with cervical cancer: Quick Reference Guide
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)
Information for healthcare providers about their role in the National Cervical Screening Program can be found at the National Cervical Screening Program website.
Clinical practice guidelines
- Cancer Council Australia (2017), National Cervical Screening Program: guidelines for the management of screen-detected abnormalities, screening in specific populations and investigation of abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (2013), Cervical cancer structured reporting protocol
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (US) (2020), NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: cervical cancer, version 1.2021
- European Society for Medical Oncology (2017), Cervical cancer: ESMO clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up
For more information about cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment
See the National Cancer Institute (US), Cervical cancer treatment (PDQ®) – health professional version.
When reading materials that are published in other countries, note that some of the information may not apply to Australian patients.
