Health professionals

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Optimal care pathway for women with ovarian 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): 

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 

For more information about ovarian cancer, diagnosis and treatment, see the National Cancer Institute (US) Ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer treatment – for health professionals (PDQ®), Ovarian germ cell tumors treatment – for health professionals (PDQ®) and Ovarian low malignant potential tumors treatment – for health professionals (PDQ®). 

For evidence-based guidelines on cases that warrant referral to a family cancer clinical for assessment, based on family history, see: 

For more information about ovarian cancer, diagnosis and treatment, see the following resources from the National Cancer Institute (US): 

Clinical guidelines 

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

Guides

Position statements