Care after initial treatment and recovery

Evidence summary and stakeholder input

The following is a summary of the findings from the evidence gathering activities and stakeholder consultations undertaken to inform development of the Roadmap. For more information on the development of the Roadmap see the About page.

Last updated: 31 March 2022

Evidence summary

The pancreatic cancer optimal care pathway (OCP) notes the importance of the transition from active treatment to post-treatment care. Depending on the stage of cancer, some people will need ongoing, hospital-based care, and in other cases a shared follow-up care arrangement with their general practitioner (GP) may be appropriate.¹ 

However, there is currently no established protocol for post-operative surveillance, although for patients at high-risk of a new pancreatic cancer, three- to six-monthly tumour markers and radiological imaging is recommended.¹

Opportunities exist to improve long-term follow-up and supportive care for people after pancreatic surgery with a specific focus on diabetes management, diabetes-related morbidity and gastrointestinal effects, as well as addressing supportive and palliative care needs.²⁻⁵ 

There are also opportunities to extend telehealth as part of highly sub-specialised care to ensure the timely follow-up, assessment and provision of information to patients, including those living in rural and remote Australia.⁶

The proportion of patients receiving shared care or coordinated care, the details of communication with the patient and their family, and whether patient preferences are included in their care plan are not readily available in current national population data sets.

Stakeholder input 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders raised the lack of coordination between cancer treatment centres and primary care, and opportunities for continued engagement between local and specialist medical teams and provision of ongoing care. Continuity of care and care coordination, incorporating financial and psychosocial support, and cancer survivors becoming advocates to normalise discussions about cancer, reducing its stigma and increasing awareness of available cancer services, were also raised as enablers of supporting care after initial treatment and recovery.

Key priority areas, strategies and activities 

Each key priority area has supporting strategies and associated activities for implementation in the short, medium or long term that have been identified to achieve the priority.