Australia’s Blood Cancer Taskforce has launched six new Optimal Care Pathways (OCPs) for blood cancer treatment and care, setting the national standard of high-quality cancer care for all Australians impacted by blood cancers (including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma). 

OCPs are one of the key recommendations in Australia’s National Strategic Action Plan for Blood Cancer (National Action Plan) – a blueprint for change in the lives of people living with blood cancer. They are trusted guides that describe what optimal care for a particular type of cancer should look like, putting patients at the centre of care decisions. Presented in three different versions, help health professionals provide nationally consistent, high-quality, evidence-based information and holistic care at each stage of the blood cancer pathway, from diagnosis and treatment through to ongoing and end-of-life care.

Blood Cancer Taskforce Co-Chair and Leukaemia Foundation CEO Chris Tanti said the development of OCPs for blood cancers marks a big step towards setting national quality standards for treatment and care for all Australians diagnosed and living with blood cancer. 

“Australia has a world class health system. But when it comes to treating people affected by blood cancer, we don’t have Australian-specific standards for diagnosis, treatment and care. Getting the best blood cancer treatment can be challenging, depending on where a person lives,” said Tanti. 

Developed by Australia’s leading blood cancer treatment and care experts, the six blood cancer OCPs are:

• Multiple myeloma (MM) – led by Prof Hang Quach  
• Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) – led by Prof Tim Hughes
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) – led by Prof John Seymour
• Low-Grade Lymphomas – led by Prof Judith Trotman and Dr Nicole Wong Doo  
• Paediatric and Adolescent and Young Adult Acute Leukaemias – led by Dr Caroline Bateman
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) – led by A/Prof Anoop Enjeti

The six new OCPs have been developed by Australia’s leading blood cancer specialists together with patient representatives and approved and endorsed by the Federal, State and Territory health departments. The development has been jointly led by the Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group (ALLG) and the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HSANZ) with support from the Leukaemia Foundation.

This partnership is being continued to prepare an additional 5 Optimal Care Pathways.