Clinical Practice Guidelines
Clinical practice guidelines are based on evidence, and outline recommendations for clinical care. They are intended to help health professionals make decisions about appropriate treatment and care for people affected by cancer to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Clinical practice guidelines about management of various cancers have been developed in recent years. There are currently no national, evidence-based clinical guidelines for endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancer is the most common invasive gynaecological cancer, affecting more than 1600 women and causing more than 200 deaths in 2003. There is currently no effective screening procedure for early detection, and five year survival rates are low, particularly for women with advanced cancer.
The Centre is presently working with health professionals and consumers to identify the areas of clinical practice and decision points where greater consistency with best practice would significantly improve outcomes for women affected by endometrial cancer.
The Centre is funding the development of clinical practice guidance material for the management of women with endometrial cancer in relation to three priority areas:
Psychosocial, psychosexual, and supportive care needs of women with endometrial cancer, including how best to deliver the treatment.
Treatment options for women with recurrent or locally advanced endometrial cancer, including how best to deliver the treatment.
Treatment for abnormal vaginal bleeding in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women, including identification of ideal investigations and referral to optimise outcomes.
It is anticipated that print-ready clinical practice guidance material for each of the priority areas will be available for distribution by mid 2010.