Providing supportive care is vital to delivering quality cancer care. People with cancer have diverse supportive care needs across the care pathway. These needs could be:
- physical
- emotional
- social
- psychological
- informational
- spiritual
- practical
Supportive care means the services, information and resources a person may need:
- before and after a cancer diagnosis
- during treatment
- after treatment
Supportive care complements cancer treatment and is a key principle in the Optimal Care Pathways. All members of the multidisciplinary team have a role in providing supportive care along the care pathway. Special attention should be paid at transition points. The Optimal care pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer guides delivery of culturally appropriate supportive care.
Victorian Cancer Survivorship Program
Survivorship care occurs immediately after primary cancer treatment. The Victorian Cancer Survivorship Program is being rolled out across Victoria in 2015.
Supportive cancer care
Cancer support services may include self-help, spiritual, psychological and social support, symptom control, rehabilitation, palliative and bereavement care.
Victorian Cancer Malnutrition Collaborative (VCMC) program of work
Cancer malnutrition is a serious supportive care need. This program supports appropriate nutrition interventions and provides benefits for cancer patients, carers and health professionals.
Care coordination
Seeks to ensure that cancer care is delivered in a logical, connected and timely way so that the medical and personal needs of the person are met.
Consumer participation
Support for consumer participation in the quality improvement of cancer services is increasing, especially from people who understand the cancer journey.
Patient experience
The tool helps Victorian cancer services improve the quality of cancer delivery and outcomes by collecting and reporting adult cancer patient experiences.
Updated