Health professionals

A A

This section provides evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, recommendations and guides to help clinicians make decisions about managing and treating breast cancer cases.  

They are based on the best evidence available at the time of publication, and we update them when new evidence becomes available.  

Optimal care pathway for women with breast 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

Optimal Care Pathway 

Quick Reference Guide 

For people affected by cancer including patients, carers and families

Guide to Best Cancer Care 

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

Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and families affected by cancer 

The investigation of a new breast symptom: a guide for General Practitioners

The investigation of a new breast symptom: a guide for General Practitioners helps to maximise the effectiveness of investigation of women who present to their General Practitioner with a new breast symptom. 

The guide indicates steps to be taken in investigating symptoms that could be breast cancer, and provides information about the triple test approach to diagnosis. The triple test is the recommended approach to investigating new breast symptoms. The triple test involves patient history and clinical breast examination; mammography and/or ultrasound imaging; and the use of non-excisional biopsy. When performed appropriately, the triple test will detect over 99.6% of breast cancers. 

The investigation of a new breast symptom: a guide for General Practitioners has been officially recognised as an Accepted Clinical Resource by The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). 

Breast cancer online courses

Cancer Australia has developed six breast cancer online courses in collaboration with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM). The modules present the latest information on breast cancer diagnosis and management through an engaging and user-friendly learning experience, encouraging primary care health professionals to implement evidence-based practices when caring for people affected by breast cancer across the cancer care continuum. 

The courses are available free of charge for ACRRM members on ACRRM’s online learning platform. For non-ACRRM members who would like to apply for free access to these courses (sponsored via Cancer Australia), please click here to register. 

Find out more about:

Clinicians can access further information and training from: