This guide indicates steps to be taken in investigating symptoms that could be breast cancer, and provides information about the triple test approach to diagnosis. This resource has been updated from the 2006 publication.
Resources and links for Health Professionals
We've identified a number of resources relevant to health professionals, on a range of cancer topics and areas.
Cancer Council WA library services and Cancer Council 13 11 20 also has a range of resources, books and journals. The library is available for health professionals to access.
Investigation of a new breast symptom - a guide for general practitioners
GP guides and resources
A number of evidence-based guides have been specifically designed for GPs and health professionals working in primary care. Including: Starting the conversation, sexual wellbeing and information on breast cancer drug Trastuzumab.
Testing for breast cancer: Will the real breast cancer screening test please stand up?
This report presents the current evidence on breast cancer screening by mammography, and
identifies new technologies for screening which are currently being promoted in Western Australia. It reports on what is known about these imaging technologies, and what is not known.
Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, early detection and management of colorectal cancer (CRC) 3rd Edition
These guidelines aim to provide information and recommendations to guide practice across the continuum of cancer care including colorectal cancer prevention, screening and diagnosis, clinical aspects of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, follow-up and psychosocial care. The guidelines also provide an evidence base for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
Clinical practice guidelines for surveillance Colonoscopy
These Guidelines are an update (and a substantial expansion) of several small sections of the 2005. Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention, Early Detection and Management of Colorectal Cancer.
Familial Aspects of Bowel Cancer: A guide for health professionals
Family history of bowel cancer can be used to estimate the risk of bowel cancer. This may help to determine the type and frequency of bowel cancer screening.
National Cervical Screening Program: Guidelines for the management of screen-detected abnormalities, screening in specific populations and investigation of abnormal vaginal bleeding
These new guidelines offer guidance to health professionals and women as to best practice in the clinical management of women with positive oncogenic HPV test results and abnormalities detected on subsequent LBC.
National Cervical Screening Program: Publications and resources
Publications and resources about cervical screening.
National HPV Vaccination Program Register
The National HPV Vaccination Program Register (HPV Register) supports the National HPV Vaccination Program by collecting information about HPV vaccine doses given across Australia.
Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice 9th edition
RACGP clinical guidelines for Immunisation
Genetics Services of Western Australia
Overview of genetics services, publications and resources.
Care pathway for hepatitis B virus
A step-by-step care guide that will allow WA GP's to diagnose and manage Hepatitis B patients in accordance to national clinical guidelines.
Towards appropriate use of diagnostic imaging: A guide for medical practitioners and their patients
This resource card aims to provide information and support to patients and general practitioners when discussing diagnostic imaging tests. Ideally, this discussion should be informed by and consistent with the appropriate clinical practice guidelines.
Diagnostic Imaging Pathways
The Diagnostic Imaging Pathways website is an evidence-based and consensus-based education and decision support tool for clinicians. It guides the choice of the most appropriate diagnostic examinations in the correct sequence in a wide range of clinical scenarios.
Clinical practice guidelines
Guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.
The COPD-X Plan
The COPD-X Plan: Austrlaian and New Zealand guidelines for the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Ovarian cancer guidelines
The Clinical practice guidelines for the management of women with epithelial ovarian cancer and associated resources are designed to assist in decision making by women and their doctors.
Familial Risk Assessment FRA-BOC
Familial Risk Assessment – Breast and Ovarian Cancer (FRA-BOC) is an on-line tool designed for use by health professionals such as general practitioners and nurses.
Assessment of symptoms that may be Ovarian cancer
The information in this guide is intended to assist general practitioners assess if a woman with persistent, unexplained symptoms may have ovarian cancer. The guide is based on the Clinical practice guidelines for the management of women with epithelial ovarian cancer.
National Cancer Prevention Policy
The National Cancer Prevention Policy makes specific recommendations for national action by governments and non-government organisations, including programs and strategies to reduce the incidence of specific preventable cancer types. (It does not provide information about cancer prevention for individuals).
Guidelines for preventive actvities in general practice, 9th edition
The Red Book is designed to provide the general practice team with guidance on opportunistic and proactive preventive care. It covers primary (preventing the initial occurrence of a disorder) and secondary (preventive early detection and intervention) activities.
Smoking, nutrition, alcohol, physical activity (SNAP)
This guide has been designed to assist general practitioners (GPs) and practice staff (the GP practice team) to work with patients on the lifestyle risk factors of smoking, nutrition, alcohol and physical activity (SNAP).
Australian Dietary Guidelines
The Australian Dietary Guidelines use the best available scientific evidence to provide information on the types and amounts of foods, food groups and dietary patterns.
Clinical guidance for responding to suffering in adults with cancer
The document provides healthcare professionals with information designed to guide the provision of psychosocial clinical care relating to the domain of suffering for improved patient outcomes and support for families and carers.
Recommendations for the identification and management of fear of cancer recurrence in adult cancer survivors
This guideline includes statements and recommendations based on available evidence about the identification of fear of cancer recurrence, and support for adult cancer survivors experiencing it. The guideline provides health professionals with information designed to assist in making management recommendations and providing care for improved patient outcomes.
Clinical practice guidelines for Prostate cancer
Guidelines for the PSA testing and management of lung cancer.
The early detection of Prostate cancer in general practice
These resource cards aim to support general practitioners assisting a patient making a choice about prostate cancer testing.
Melanoma and other skin cancers: a guide for medical practitioners
This card provides an overview of types of skin cancer, diagnosis and treatment options.
Testicular cancer: Diagnosis and management - GP summary guide
A Clinical Summary Guides on the management of testicular cancer developed by Andrology Australia to assist health professionals in the management of their male patients.
Melanoma: The facts at your fingertips
Fact sheet for patients on melanoma risks and what to look out for
Patient fact sheets
The Cancer Council Australia has developed a set of 23 easy-to-print, one page patient fact sheets on the prevention, early detection and diagnosis of cancer.
Optimal Cancer Care Pathways (OCPs)
The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services commissioned Cancer Council Victoria to develop the Optimal Cancer Care Pathways (OCPs). The consumer OCPs have been developed into an interactive web portal.
Publication on improving services for Aboriginal people
This publication summarises the findings from a research project investigating Aboriginal people's experiences of cancer in Western Australia. The report has been written to inform participants of the study outcomes and, importantly, provides recommendations for health and other related-service providers about how cancer-related services for Aboriginal people should be improved.
Publication on working with local government
This Cancer Council Western Australia publication details the pivotal role of local government in promoting healthy communities and provides an understanding of how health agencies can prepare for developing sustainable, effective partnerships with the local government sector.