Optimal care pathway for women with gynaecologocial cancers
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 endometrial cancer
- Optimal care pathway for women with endometrial cancer: Quick Reference Guide
- Optimal care pathway for women with ovarian cancer
- Optimal care pathway for women with ovarian 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
- Optimal care pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer: Quick Reference Guide
Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and families affected by cancer
More information
For more information about gynaecological cancer diagnosis and treatment, see the National Cancer Institute (US) documents:
- Cervical cancer treatment (PDQ®): health professional version
- Endometrial cancer treatment (PDQ®): health professional version
- Ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer treatment (PDQ®): health professional version
- Gestational trophoblastic disease treatment (PDQ®): health professional version
- Vaginal cancer treatment (PDQ®): health professional version
- Vulvar cancer treatment (PDQ®): health professional version.
Clinical practice guidelines
- Cancer Council Australia (2021). National Cervical Screening Program: Guidelines for the management of screen-detected abnormalities, screening in specific populations and investigation of abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Gynaecological Oncology Network (2019). Gynaecological cancer: a guide to clinical practice in NSW
- Cancer Council Australia (2017). Cervical cancer guidelines
- eviQ referral guidelines for ovarian cancer risk assessment and consideration of genetic testing (2019)
- eviQ General practitioner referral guidelines for cancer genetics assessment (2020)
- European Society for Medical Oncology (2020). Cervical cancer: ESMO clinical practice guidelines
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2021). NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: cervical cancer, version 1.2021
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2021). NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: uterine neoplasms, version 2.2021
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2021). NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: ovarian cancer, including fallopian tube cancer and primary peritoneal cancer, version 1.2021
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2021). NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: vulvar cancer (squamous cell carcinoma), version 3.2021.
When reading materials that are published in other countries, note that some of the information may not apply to Australian patients.
