Optimal care pathway for people with sarcoma (bone and soft tissue sarcoma)
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 sarcoma (bone and soft tissue sarcoma)
- Optimal care pathway for people with sarcoma (bone and soft tissue sarcoma): 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
For more information about sarcoma diagnosis and treatment, see the National Cancer Institute (US):
- Adult soft tissue sarcoma treatment (PDQ®): health professional version
- Kaposi sarcoma treatment (PDQ®): health professional version
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumors treatment (PDQ®): health professional version
- Uterine sarcoma treatment (PDQ®): health professional version
- Ewing sarcoma treatment (PDQ®): health professional version
- Osteosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone treatment (PDQ®): health professional version
- Childhood rhabdosarcoma treatment (PDQ®): health professional version
- Childhood soft tissue sarcoma treatment (PDQ®): health professional version
- Childhood vascular tumors treatment (PDQ®): health professional version.
Clinical practice guidelines for sarcoma
- Australian and New Zealand Sarcoma Association (2022). Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Sarcoma
- Cancer Council Australia Sarcoma Guidelines Working Party (2013). Clinical practice guidelines for the management of adult onset sarcoma
- European Society for Medical Oncology (2021). Soft tissue and visceral sarcomas: ESMO clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network . NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: soft tissue sarcoma,
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network . NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: bone cancer,
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network . NCCN clinical guidelines in oncology: gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST),
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network . NCCN clinical guidelines in oncology: Kaposi sarcoma,
When reading materials that are published in other countries, note that some of the information may not apply to Australian patients.
- Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group and the GI Cancer Institute, Gastro-Intestinal stromal tumour (GIST)
- Australia and New Zealand Sarcoma Association
- Australian Cancer Trials
