Health professionals

Optimal cancer care pathways for people with head and neck 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 people with head and neck cancer
• Optimal care pathway for people with head and neck 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.

• Head and neck cancer: Your guide to best cancer care

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 

• Our Mob and Cancer
• Checking for cancer – what to expect
• Cancer – what to expect 

Clinical practice guidelines for head and neck cancers

• Clinical Oncological Society of Australia, Evidence-based practice guidelines for the nutritional management of adult patients with head and neck cancer.
• National Comprehensive Cancer Network (US), NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: head and neck cancers, version 1.2022 (register for free to access these).
• European Society for Medical Oncology, ESMO clinical practice guidelines: head and neck cancers.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract: assessment and management in people aged 16 and over.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Improving outcomes in head and neck cancers.

Find out more

• View Sexual Intimacy After Cancer - Julie McCrossin – a presentation for health professionals about psychosexual care for people with head and neck cancer
• View  Sexual Intimacy After Cancer - Dr Isabel White, Psychosexual Therapist - an interview with Julie McCrossin

National Cancer Institute (US), Head and neck cancer – health professional version.

When reading materials that are published in other countries, note that some of the information may not apply to Australian patients.