Most people in Australia die in institutionalised care, even though overwhelmingly they want to be at home.

“Bringing Our Dying Home - Creating Community at End of Life” is the newly-released report examining  home-based end of life care, following a two-year study of primary carers, support networks and HOME Hospice community mentors undertaken by the University of Western Sydney and the Cancer Council NSW. 

Launched during 2011 Palliative Care week, Life, Hope and Reality is an online resource that provides supportive care information for people with advanced cancer, their families, caregivers and friends. The resource was developed following extensive consultation with researchers, palliative care workers, psychologists, oncologists, surgeons and social workers from institutions across Australia, as well as feedback from patients, their partners, caregivers and the frontline healthcare workers who assist people with the challenges of having an advanced cancer.

Life, Hope and Reality is a practical, up-to-date holistic, best practice guide that includes useful assessment tools, to help people to make health and treatment decisions which are right for them and ensure they receive quality end of life care. 

Sections include:

• Physical Needs
• Emotional Needs
• Social Needs
• Lifestyle
• Finances
• End of Life
• The People Who Care
• Palliative Care
• Useful Assessment Tools 
• Glossary 

Psycho-oncology is a comprehensive reference work on all the psychological aspects of cancer. It started as a revision of Holland and Rowland‘s very successful Handbook of Psychooncology (OUP, 1990), but was so heavily revised and expanded that it became a new book.

Among the many changes, there are new sets of chapters on psychosocial risk factors for cancer, genetic risk and cancer screening, and caring for persons with special needs. The editor, Jimmie C. Holland, is widely recognized as a leader and founder of this field. The six associate editors represent the disciplines relevant to psycho-oncology: psychiatry, psychology, social work and nursing.

A range of clinical practice tools and resources including guidelines, slides and patient information regarding supportive care, quality of life and survivorship.

The Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre (ACSC) aims to provide timely and relevant information for health professionals on important issues related to cancer survivorship.

Information is available for health professionals about late effects of cancer and its treatment, follow-up care, survivorship care planning, and information specific to certain cancers.

The site also contains information for patients, survivors and family and friends.

CancerCare is a nonprofit organisation that provides free, professional support services to anyone affected by cancer: people with cancer, caregivers, children, loved ones, and the bereaved.

Organised by topic and cancer type, CancerCare‘s Reading Room offers a variety of publications for heatlh professionals, patients and caregivers that can be downloaded as PDFs or ordered, regarding the medical, emotional and practical aspects of coping with cancer.

The Clinical practice guidelines for the psychosocial care of adults with cancer have been developed by the NBOCC and the National Cancer Control Initiative in response to this need. The Steering Group used the original psychosocial guidelines for women with breast cancer as a template for the expansion of information, and further development of recommendations regarding clinical care of all adult patients with cancer.

These evidence-based guidelines have been designed for use by all health professionals who come in contact with people during the course of cancer diagnosis and treatment. The document is multidisciplinary in its focus and the recommendations applicable to diverse treatment settings.

Information regarding supportive care options to assist cancer patients before, during and after treatment and dealing with acute and long term side effects of treatment.

The information is written in two formats, one for patients and the other for health professionals.

Topics covered include anxiety, depression, fatigue, reproductive issues and pain management.

Information is also available regarding symptom management, including techniques to assist with effects such as menopause, hair loss, nausea, fatigue and lymphodema.

This guidance has been produced by the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA) as part of a national Youth Cancer Networks Program project funded by the Australian Government.

The guidance provides evidence-based recommendations and ‘good practice points’ to assist health professionals in effectively and fully discussing with their AYA patients and their families:

• the potential risk of cancer treatments to fertility
• fertility preservation options for AYAs diagnosed with cancer
• potential late effects and the need for assessment and monitoring of reproductive, sexual and endocrine health after cancer treatment ends.

COSA convened a working group of multidisciplinary health professionals with expert knowledge of the areas covered and a patient representative with personal experience to review the available literature and develop the draft guidance.

COSA invites all interested stakeholders to review the draft guidance and provide comments into the wiki format which will be considered in finalising the content and recommendations.

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide the multidisciplinary team of health professionals with a summary of evidence-based clinical questions related to the nutrition management of adult patients with head and neck cancer.

Head and neck cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. this population is often nutritionally compromised to some degree from the onset, with malnutrition rates reported between 30-50%. The causes of malnutrition are multifactorial including lifestyle factors of tobacco and alcohol use and baseline dietary intake; as well as tumour location and burden, and side effects of multi-modal treatment regimens. Furthermore, malnutrition results in impaired wound healing, reduced immunocompetence, a decreased tolerance to treatment, resulting in undesired treatment breaks and unplanned hospital admissions. Consequently nutrition support plays a crucial role in the provision of best practice care to this population.

The website provides a forum for public comment and debate regarding the guidelines.

Clinical practice resources to assist with the supportive care of patients for the prevention and management of the adverse effects of cancer and its treatment, including:

Antiemetic Guidelines
Developed by MASCC, the world standard antiemetic guidelines for the treatment and prevention of nausea and vomiting following chemotherapy, radiation therapy or other cancer treatments were updated in 2008. Guidelines are included for the four risk groups and agents and are available for download in several languages.

Mucositis Guidelines
A comprehensive review of the literature related to mucositis and the development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.

MASCC Antiemesis Tool (MAT)
The MASCC Antiemesis Tool (MAT) was developed by members of MASCC to assist patients and oncology professionals in communicating accurately about the prevention and control of nausea and vomiting that may occur with chemotherapy. The concept of the MAT is to provide an easy-to-use and easy-to-evaluate tool to assist in providing the best individual care to patients. Additionally, the tool will aid treatment centers in understanding the effectiveness of their antiemetic strategies.

MASCC Oral Agent Teaching Tool (MOATT)
The MASCC Teaching Tool for Patients Receiving Oral Agents for Cancer (MOATT) was developed by MASCC members and evaluated and revised so that it may be used worldwide. It is available in several languages that were translated using the standard forward/backward translation process.

MASCC EGFR Inhibitor Skin Toxicity Tool (MESTT)
The MESTT was developed by the MASCC Skin Toxicity Study Group in 2008 as a tool to assist oncology health professions with the monitoring and reporting of dermatologic AEs in EGFRI-treated patients. The MESTT is an event-specific grading system that can be used to standardize assessment, optimize the use of EGFR inhibitors and enable researchers to conduct more informative, controlled studies in this patient population.

This guideline was developed to  help dietetic practitioners, patients and consumers make shared decisions about health care choices in specific clinical circumstances, and to provide medical nutrition therapy (MNT) guidelines aimed at managing symptoms, preventing weight loss and maintaining optimal nutritional status during cancer treatment

The objectives of the guideline include:

• To define evidence-based recommendations for registered dietitians (RDs) that are carried out in collaboration with other healthcare providers
• To guide practice decisions that integrate medical, nutritional and behavioral elements
• To reduce variations in practice among RDs
• To promote self-management strategies that empower the patient to take responsibility for day-to-day management
• To enhance the quality of life for the patient, utilizing customized strategies based on the individual's preferences, lifestyle and goals
• To develop guidelines for interventions that have measurable clinical outcomes
• To define the highest quality of care within cost constraints of the current healthcare environment

The Physician Database Query (PDQ) is the NCI database that contains the latest information about cancer treatment, screening, prevention, genetics, supportive care, and complementary and alternative medicine.

These PDQ cancer information summaries provide comprehensive, peer-reviewed information for health professionals about a range of psychosocial and supportive care issues including:

• Anxiety and Distress (PDQ®)
• Depression (PDQ®)
• Family Caregivers in Cancer: Roles and Challenges (PDQ®)
• Fatigue (PDQ®)
• Last Days of Life (PDQ®)
• Lymphedema (PDQ®)
• Nausea and Vomiting (PDQ®)
• Pain (PDQ®)
• Sexuality and Reproductive Issues (PDQ®)

Links to a wide range of internal and external education guides on important psychosocial topics, including:

• Diagnosing depression in a cancer setting
• Identifying distress in a cancer setting
• Psychosocial aspects of cancer survivorship
• Cancer related fatigue
• Cancer pain management
• Psychosocial screening
• Psychiatric emergencies in a cancer setting
• Cognitive and behavioural strategies for cancer patients

The aim of this report is to present an overview of published research about the psychosocial impact of breast cancer on women‘s body image and sexuality. It also considers the supportive care issues for women and their partners, as illustrated through a series of focus group interviews.

A series of supportive care summaries that provide descriptions of the pathophysiology and treatment of common physical and psychosocial complications of cancer and its treatment, such as fatigue, pain, complications and side effects, nutritional concerns, emotional concerns, treatment related issues, clinical trials information, information for loved ones, surviorship and end of life information.

Each health professional version contains an overview, information on etiology, assessment and management, and references to the current literature.

Most supportive care summaries are also available in patient versions, written in easy-to-understand, non-technical language.

Report and presentations from the Supportive Care in Cancer Seminar, which considered research into supportive care in cancer and aimed to identify both current and potential research activities in this area.

The seminar focussed on areas such as quality of life, functional outcomes, rehabilitation and psychosocial outcomes, survivorship issues and spiritual care.

Fact sheet about supportive care policies in Victoria.

A series of position statements on supportive care including:

• state and territory travel and accommodation subsidy schemes,
• benefits of healthy diet and physical activity for cancer survivors 
• complementary and alternative therapies.

Report about tools and methods for identifying psychosocial distress.

As a supplement to professional nutritional and dietary advice, information is provided for primary care practitioners, other health professionals, carers and patients regarding the nutritional needs of cancer patients and their various eating concerns, including:

• What you should know about cancer treatment, eating well, and eating problems 
• How feelings can affect appetite
• Hints to manage eating problems
• How to eat well after cancer treatment ends
• Foods and drinks to help with certain eating problems 
• Recipes 

A practical, simple and easy to read guide that outlined what they could expect post treatment and resources to refer to and utilise in addressing their uncertainties.

The resource

• provides information, resources and links to support patients who have received chemotherapy
• assists patients in knowing what to expect, as there is an expectation that they can resume life as normal following treatment
• reduces anxiety experienced on completion of chemotherapy
• fills the information gap reported by patients who had previously received chemotherapy.

This can be downloaded in PDF format or is available as a hard copy booklet that can be ordered from SMICS.

The beyondblue website contains information and resources about anxiety and depression and mental health for cancer patients, their carers and families, with helpful strategies to deal with signs of distress, including how to seek help for depression and anxiety.

Resources available for download include:

• "Maintaining your well-being: Information on depression and anxiety for men with prostate cancer and their partners", a booklet developed with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA)
• Prostate cancer: the risk of depression/anxiety fact sheet
• Anxiety disorders and depression in men with testicular cancer fact sheet
• Depression and breast cancer fact sheet
• Brain tumours, depression and anxiety disorders fact sheet  

The website also contains information for health professionals regarding managing depression in primary care settings, indigenous-specific resources and clinical guidelines for mental health. All resources can also be ordered through the beyondblue information line (1300 22 4636).

Information for clinicians to assist them to discuss driving with their patients, a checklist to determine their patient's fitness to drive and information for having their drivers license reinstated.

Information and guides for health professionals to provide to their patients regarding options available for breast reconstructive surgery for women who have had a breast removed.

This booklet provides information about the emotional and social impact of cancer. It has been written for people diagnosed with cancer, their family and friends.

The booklet may be most useful for people recently diagnosed with cancer or currently undergoing treatment though there are issues discussed that may be relevant at other times throughout your cancer journey.

The National Centre for Gynaecological Cancers aims to increase awareness and education about gynaecological cancers for medical and allied health professionals to improve the diagnosis, treatment and care of women affected by these cancers.

The Centre has collated a suite of Useful Information brochures for consumers, containing information including:

• Coping with your diagnosis. (PDF 479KB)
• Managing pain. (PDF 742KB)
• Question checklist. (PDF 253KB)
• Survivorship and ongoing support. (PDF 964KB)
• Palliative care. (PDF 405KB)
• End of life issues. (PDF 398KB)
• Practical and financial support. (PDF 335KB)
• Other resources. (PDF 415KB)
• Glossary. (PDF 966KB) 

Cancer Voices Australia provides a national, independent voice for people affected by all types of cancer, linking and collaborating with state Cancer Voices in ACT, NSW, QLD, VIC, WA and SA.

Cancer Voices Tasmania will commence shortly. CVA is a respected and integral part of the national cancer control arena, working collaboratively with its member organisations, the Federal Government, Cancer Australia, Cancer Councils, the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia, other clinical bodies and key stakeholders to improve services and care for all people affected by cancer in Australia.

This tool for patients provides information about the psychological and social aspects of a cancer diagnosis.

This tool includes the following sections:

• Cancer will change your life
• Learning you have cancer
• Family matters
• Sharing your feelings about cancer
• Learning about your cancer and feeling more in control
• People helping people
• Dealing with a new self-image
• Living each day
• Resources for learning more

Fertile Hope is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients and survivors whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility and information for health professionals regarding fertility risks and options.

The site includes a patient education booklet, a Fast Facts for Obstetricians and Gynaecologists booklet, algorithms/pathways for referrals, a risk calculator tool, an options calculator tool and other resources for patients considering their options.

Look Good...Feel Better is a free community service program dedicated to helping women undergoing treatment for cancer. The purpose of the program is to help them manage the appearance related side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, thereby helping to restore their appearance and self image.

Two hour workshops are conducted at over 165 hospitals in Australia by experienced and specially trained volunteer beauty professionals who provide advice on how to deal with changes in skin, hair, eyebrow and eyelash loss and general appearance related concerns. These workshops are completely free, relaxed and friendly with an emphasis on hands on learning.

Educational materials are also available for patients, health professionals working in oncology and for friends and relatives of anyone undergoing cancer treatment, including Changes, Choices and Challenges, a 20 page self help booklet that provides practical advice in an easy to read and use format.

Lung cancer patients or carers who would like to connect with other people in a similar situation are invited to participate in The Australian Lung Foundation’s Lung Cancer Telephone Support Groups.

The support group gives patients and carers the unique opportunity to share experiences and knowledge, connect with other patients or carers, offer support to one another over the phone and access emotional support and up-to-date information.

Patient Group Telephone Meetings occur on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 9.30am to 10.30am.

Carer Group Telephone Meetings occur on the 4th Thursday of each month from 9.30am to 10.30am.

For further information or to participate, phone 1800 654 301

The NexProfiler Tool for Cancer is an interactive decision-support tool, which enables cancer patients to make better informed treatment decisions using information from evidence-based, peer-reviewed medical literature describing specific conditions, treatment types, and the exact topics that should be discussed with medical professionals.

Includes tools for the following cancers:

• Bladder Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Cervical Cancer
• Colorectal Cancer
• Head and Neck Cancers
• Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Kidney Cancer
• Leukemia - Adult ALL (lymphoblastic)
• Leukemia - Adult AML (myelogenous)
• Leukemia - Adult CML (myelogenous)
• Lung Cancer - Small Cell
• Lung Cancer- Non-Small Cell
• Melanoma
• Multiple Myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin‘s Lymphoma
• Ovarian Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Testicular Cancer
• Uterine Cancer

A guide that can be provided to cancer patients and their carers detailing the importance of diet and exercise before and during treatment, together with information and tips for eating well should the side effects of treatment make this difficult.

A series of accurate, up-to-date and authorative cancer information and resources from Europe‘s leading cancer information service for people with cancer and their families about common issues that arise.

This booklet has been prepared to help people with cancer understand how cancer and its treatment may affect their sexuality, and to help to rebuild their sexual confidence.

This section of the TCCA website provides information about the support available to people with cancer at a national and state level.

This includes:

• counselling services
• support groups and networks
•  education groups
• programs and information
• practical assistance
• accommodation

A website for discussions by patients, carers, family and professionals about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others.

Information for health professionals regarding the fertility-preservation options available to patients at the time of their cancer diagnosis, prior to the commencement of treatment.

The first public national register of lymphoedema practitioners in Australia and New Zealand, the National Lymphoedema Practitioners Register (NLPR) has been developed by Australasian Lymphology Association (ALA) as a searchable database to facilitate easy,  confident, local referral for health professionals and lymphoedema consumers to lymphoedema practitioners who fulfill the accreditation and registration requirements of the ALA.

If you would like copies of the NLPR brochure to give to your clients, please email info@nlpr.asn.au

The Carer Information Pack provides practical information that health professionals can provide to carers and family members to assist them to care for the cancer patient and themselves, produced by Aged and Community Care Division of the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. The Carer Information Pack is free to carers and provides practical information to support them in their caring role.

PDF fact sheets are available for download in PDF formats on the following topics:

• Taking a Break
• Feelings
• Managing Money
• Managing Health Care and Medications
• Legal Arrangements
• Safety at Home
• Taking Care of Yourself
• Loss and Grief
• Services for You
• Emergency Care Plan and List for recording medication requirements.

Information, links and resources about available practical support and assistance for people caring for a relative or friend with cancer.

Tool for measuring level of distress in cancer patients can be downloaded from the NCCN website following free registration.

National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre has developed a range of guidelines, tools and educational resources designed to support health professionals in identifying and managing psychosocial aspects of care for cancer patients. These resources are relevant for all cancer types.

Available resources include:

• Psychosocial care guidelines and recommendations
• Psychosocial care tools and proformas
• Psychosocial care reports
• National communication skills training initiative
• Psychosocial care useful links

National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre‘s 'psychosocial care referral checklist' provides a simple way for health professionals to identify patients at higher risk of psychosocial distress who may benefit from additional assessment and appropriate referral for psychosocial care.

This resource includes the following:

• Explanatory notes
• Psychosocial care referral checklist
• Distress Thermometer (note this pdf is provided by www.nccn.org)

A guide for assessment of client/carer psychosocial needs.

The aim of American Psychosocial Oncology Society is to advance the science and practice of psychosocial care for people with cancer.

This includes:

• Providing a forum for professionals and individuals interested in the areas of psychological, social, behavioral, and spiritual aspects of cancer
• Raising the level of awareness of health professionals and the public about psychological, social, behavioral, and spiritual domains of care for patients with cancer
• Developing and implementing educational programs for health professionals, patients, and the public on the psychological, social, behavioral, and spiritual aspects of cancer.

The Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre is working to help improve health outcomes for cancer survivors. The ACSC is advocating for and assisting the development of services, as well as promoting research, education and discussion within the health system to increase knowledge about cancer survivorship. In these ways we aim to promote coordinated, evidence-based care; improve collaboration between health professionals and within the health system; and promote survivor-focused solutions to barriers that exist within the health system.

The ACSC is based at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac) in East Melbourne, Victoria, and is funded by The Pratt Foundation and the Victorian Department of Health.

OSWA is a member group of COSA dedicated to the enhancement of psychosocial services to people with cancer and their families. OSWA is the peak organisation for Australian Oncology Social Workers, providing a forum for information, exchange, networking and ready access to resources to support of the practice of oncology social work.

The APS is committed to advancing psychology as a discipline and profession.

It spreads the message that psychologists make a difference to peoples lives, through improving scientific knowledge and community wellbeing. APS members form a dynamic group that advocate for psychologists at all levels of government. They are constantly promoting the contributions psychology makes to people‘s health and wellbeing, and to understanding important social issues facing Australian society.

The Australian Psychosocial Oncology Society‘s mission is to promote the psychosocial care of patients with cancer, their families and carers, to enhance the capacity of health professionals to deliver optimal psychosocial care, and to promote the timely translation of research into clinical practice. Membership is open to all members of COSA who are interested in the psychosocial care of patients with cancer and their families.

CeMPED‘s mission is to support excellent research across the interface of Psychology, Medicine and Public Health to answer questions about:

• the behavioural factors which promote good health and prevent disease
• ways to enhance the psychosocial adjustment of patients and carers
• ways to increase use of evidence in health care decision making
• ways to support patients to be more involved in their own health care.

CeMPED‘s research strengths lie in three themes:

• Doctor-patient communication
• Evidence-based, shared decision making
• Psycho-Oncology

Founded in 1984, the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) was created to foster international multidisciplinary communication about clinical, educational and research issues that relate to the subspecialty of psycho-oncology and two primary psychosocial dimensions of cancer:

• Response of patients, families and staff to cancer and its treatment at all stages
• Psychological, social and behavioral factors that influence tumor progression and survival.

Membership is open to individuals with a diversity of clinical and research backgrounds. These include, but are not limited to, physicians, social workers, nurses, psychologists, rehabilitation specialists, epidemiologists, social scientists, and educators. Currently, there are over two hundred members from thirty-eight countries.

The Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN) is a national initiative committed to supporting the development of collaborative mental health services in the primary care sector, offering targeted resources, support and workshops to enable high quality interdisciplinary networking between local groups of mental health professionals.

The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) is an international, multidisciplinary organization. MASCC/ISOO is unique in that it is a multiprofessional organization that encompasses all aspects of cancer care beyond direct antineoplastic approaches.

The membership profile includes oncology medical, surgical, and radiology physicians, nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, pharmacists, social workers, dieticians, outcomes specialists, psychologists, statisticians, infectious disease specialists, educators and representatives from industry and non-profit sectors.

The Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG) was established in 2005, in response to a recognised need to develop the capacity and co-ordinated collaboration to conduct large-scale, multi-centre psycho-oncology and supportive care research.

Membership (free) is open to researchers and health professionals from Australia and New Zealand. PoCoG is one of the ANZ cancer co-operative clinical trials groups (CCTGs) developed under the auspices of the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA).

The PoCoG website offers news and information about psychosocial research and developments in supportive care in oncology. PoCoG also runs a Quality of Life Office which provides online information and resources relating to the assessment of quality of life in people affected by cancer.

The website also includes a clickable world map of psycho-oncology research centres to foster collaborations and networks among researchers in psycho-oncology in Australia and around the world.

A supplement of the Medical Journal of Australia (September 2010), containing refereed articles focusing on psycho-social and mental health issues for cancer patients. 

An edition of Cancer Forum (March 2006) focusing on psycho-oncology and the importance of psychosocial and supportive care including information regarding patient distress and grief, sexuality and fertility issues, support during treatment, mental health, support for carers and available support groups and resources.

An edition of Cancer Forum (July 2010, Volume 34, No. 2), the journal of the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia and The Cancer Council of Australia, with a focus on symptom management in supportive care and associated issues.

The Journal of Supportive Oncology publishes review articles and original research relating to practical management issues in the palliative and supportive care of patients with neoplastic diseases. The articles aim to be of broad relevance to the clinical problems faced by the practicing oncologist, bringing research findings from bench to bedside. The journal focuses on the integration of supportive and palliative oncology into the care of all oncology patients, from diagnosis to cure and beyond.

Information and advice about healthy eating and physical activity for people who have survived cancer.

An edition of Cancer Forum (November 2009, 33(3), the official journal of the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA), dedicated to the topical issues of survivorship and matters relating to living life after cancer.

The Living After Cancer Treatment brochure series is an introduction to survivorship that is:

• Culturally relevant
• User-friendly
• Easy to read

The brochures raise awareness of the physical, practical and emotional concerns of cancer survivors, list resources and encourage survivors to seek support.

It is available in 13 formats, adapted to be culturally relevant to the needs of a range of different specific audiences, including multilingual brochures in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Vietnamese.

Transcript of the "Surviving Survival" edition of the television program, Four Corners, about the experiences of cancer patients after 5 years of post-treatment survival.

To borrow a video of the episode, call The Cancer Council Helpline 13 11 20.

Cancer survivors often have ongoing needs following active treatment. 

Having a needs assessment during and at the end of treatment helps to identify these issues and a care plan can be developed in partnership with the cancer survivor.  A care plan is ‘owned by’ and supports the cancer survivor after their treatment and covers areas such as;

• Planned surveillance and follow-up care
• The symptoms of a possible recurrence or consequences of treatment
• Signposting to  support groups and local services
• Lifestyle improvements including activity and nutrition
• Psychological support
• Work and finance concerns
• Practical concerns
• How to re-access the healthcare system if necessary, including out of hours support

The assessment and care planning project has been focusing on the below four key areas.  These areas are covered in detail in supporting pages and in the assessment and care planning report, available to download below.

• Assessment and Care Planning Tools and Competencies
• Treatment Summary
• Cancer Care Review
• Health and Wellbeing Clinics

Information and resources for cancer survivors from the Cancer Council Victoria, including a booklet developed with Peter Mac, Life After Cancer: A Guide for Cancer Survivors focusing on the issues affecting cancer survivors following the completion of their treatment, including advice for returning to a 'normal' life and dealing with practical issues, and information regarding anxiety and depression, follow up care, long term side affects and staying healthy.

The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship is the oldest survivor-led cancer advocacy organization in the country, advocating for quality cancer care for all Americans and empowering cancer survivors. NCCS believes in evidence-based advocacy for systemic changes at the federal level in how the nation researches, regulates, finances, and delivers quality cancer care.

Patient education is also a priority and a link is provided to NCCS‘s award-winning Cancer Survival Toolbox® to assist patients about quality cancer care. Patient education is also a priority, leading to the development of NCCS‘s award-winning Cancer Survival Toolbox to assist patients about quality cancer care.

A Facilitator‘s Manual has been developed to assist health care professionals to implement the toolbox in a health care setting.

Fact sheets and a template are also available for survivorship care planning here.

ACCC has released a set of resources for community cancer programs to help develop, enhance, and expand services to cancer survivors in their home communities.

Resources include:

• Quickly summarize patients' diagnosis, treatment, and follow up care.
• Enhance Care Plans with valuble information on symtoms to watch for, effects of treatment, and local and national resources.

Cancer.Net‘s survivorship section provides helpful information for cancer survivors and their friends and family with links to various resources.

Focuses on survivors of adult cancer during the phase of care that follows primary treatment, recommending that each cancer patient receive a "survivorship care plan." The focus is on survivorship with information about the importance of care coordination.

The Handbook on Cancer Survivorship responds to the diverse needs of survivors and their support communities by comprehensively addressing the major issues in the field, from the burden of survivorship to secondary prevention.

Editor Michael Feuerstein, himself a cancer survivor, and sixty other top scientist-practitioners analyze in depth how survivors meet and manage the challenges of life after cancer, and what clinicians, researchers, and public health systems can do to ease the transition.

The Handbook‘s 27 comprehensive chapters include the latest research and practice related to:

• Survivors quality of life, and how it can be assessed
• Managing everyday and chronic stress
• Depression, anxiety, pain disorders, and cognitive changes
• Coping, adaptation, and resilience
• Behavior change strategies - exercise, weight control, smoking cessation
• Cancer survivorship centers and other models for follow-up care
• Survivor, clinician, and international perspectives
• New frontiers in practice, research, and policy.

Such wide-ranging coverage benefits everyone involved in cancer survival:

• primary care providers
• oncologists
• behavioral health specialists
• physical and occupational therapists
• nutritionists
• epidemiologists
• health systems professionals and policymakers
• and, of course, survivors themselves and their families.

This free and easy to use program provides cancer survivors with information regarding the health risks they face as a result of cancer therapies.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has developed a Survivorship Guide as well as resources about long term side effects that you can provide to your patients following treatment, including:

• Emotional Effects
• Fertility and Parenthood
• Follow Up Care
• Healthy Living 
• Physical Effects
• Practical Matters
• Sexual Health

Provide information and support to your patients who have completed treatment by encouraging them to attend the Living Well After Cancer Program, a free 2 1/2 -hour program community education program, held throughout NSW, run by The Cancer Council NSW with trained cancer survivors that includes practical information and open discussion for people who are cancer survivors, their carers, family, friends and work colleagues.

Participants will:

• Learn about the possible changes, challenges and opportunities they may face after completing cancer treatment
• Have the opportunity to connect with others on a similar journey
• Share tips, ideas and activities for living well after cancer.

Visit the website for the schedule of workshops and further information.

Information and tips on staying active and healthy during and after cancer treatment, survivorship planning as well as information on dealing with the possibility of cancer recurrence, and find inspiration and hope in stories about other people whose lives have been touched by cancer.

A number of cancers can now be cured but many cancer survivors feel that the medical system fails to meet their critical, unique and varied ongoing emotional, physical, and spiritual needs including included issues of depression, sexuality, pain, fear of disease recurrence, difficulties in relationships, and financial strain.

This newsletter, published by The Psychosocial and Nursing Advisory Board to the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research, includes a selection of recent journal articles relating to survivorship issues:

• Addressing the Psychosocial Needs in Cancer Care
• Physical Effects in Cancer Survivors
• Sexuality and Cancer Survivorship
• Employment, Insurance and Financial Issues
• Spirituality and Cancer Survivorship
• Courageous Cancer Couple-Meaningful Meanderings.

The UCLA-LIVESTRONG Survivorship Centre of Excellence is funded funding by the Lance Armstrong Foundation and other philanthropic supporters, and is the focal point of survivorship activities at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Centre, providing clinical care and information on improving survivorship quality-of-life.  

The center is developing models of healthcare delivery to meet the physical and psychosocial needs of cancer survivors and also offers community education on care and leading-edge research for survivors.

The site contains links to other UCLA survivorship programs, external resources, news and latest research.

Developed specifically for physiotherapists and other health professionals including exercise physiologists, occupational therapists and oncologists based largely on the research and successful cancer
survivor program at the Vario Health Institute, Edith Cowan University, these guidelines, the purpose of these guidelines are to:

• present background information on exercise prescription including modes of exercise, program variables and principles related to training that are critical to induce exercise adaptation
• examine specific issues that may influence a cancer patient’s capacity to exercise during and after treatment and provide the latest available scientific evidence to address these issues
• provide a generic (home-based and clinic-based) exercise program for cancer patients and assist with the administration of such a program including examples of general forms for GP clearance of exercise participation, health and medical history questionnaires and training log formats.

A printable template that can be used by nurses to record a patient's cancer history and plan for their follow up care.

Information brochures for clinicians detailing the therapeutic interventions that a Speech Pathologist can offer to cancer patients a head and/ or neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy.

Information can be downloaded as a PDF on a range of common side effects and issues related to Head and Neck Cancer treatment including:

• Cancer of the Head and Neck
• Trismus
• Dysphagia
• Xerostomia
• Humidifcation
• Mouth issues
• Dysphonia
• Odynophagia
• Stoma management.

Clinician fact sheets to complement the brochures are also available from:

Senior Speech Pathologist - Acute Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, 199 Ipswich Rd, Woolloongabba QLD 4102.