Investigating symptoms of lung cancer: a guide for all health professionals assists health professionals with the identification and appropriate investigation of symptoms that may be lung cancer. The guide also supports the timely referral of patients into the multidisciplinary diagnostic pathway.
Diagnosis at an earlier stage leads to improved survival, however non-specific lung cancer symptoms can make both patient awareness and diagnosis challenging.
The guide provides information about optimal timeframes for investigation and referral at each step of the pathway, as well as information about different types of imaging for lung cancer. It also emphasises the importance of the multidisciplinary team in the care of people with lung cancer.
Featuring a mobile-optimised interface, the interactive digital tool for Investigating symptoms of lung cancer: a guide for all health professionals takes the user step-by-step through the risk factors, symptoms and signs of lung cancer, and diagnostic imaging, then provides a recommendation for next steps of action based on the recommendations in the guide.
The accompanying Evidence Report supports the recommendations in the guide and includes additional recommendations to facilitate referral and patient support.
Investigating symptoms of lung cancer: a guide for all health professionals has been officially recognised as an Accepted Clinical Resource by The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
The guide has also been endorsed by the following colleges and organisations:
Cancer Australia’s Lung Cancer Framework is a national resource for health professionals and service providers who are involved in the care and treatment of people affected by lung cancer across Australia.
It aims to improve the outcomes and experiences of people affected by lung cancer in Australia by providing evidence-based, best practice information, strategies, tools and resources to support local adoption of the Principles for best practice management of lung cancer in Australia.
Cancer Australia has released two resources to support the adoption of the Lung Cancer Framework’s Principles for Best Practice Lung Cancer Care in Australia: a resource for consumers and a resource for health professionals.
Both resources aim to improve the outcomes and experiences of people affected by lung cancer in Australia, irrespective of where they live.
The Consumer Guide contains guidance on what people with lung cancer can do to engage with and participate actively in conversations with their health professionals, and make informed, evidence-based decisions about the cancer care that is right for them.
The Guide for Health Professionals contains evidence-based information and best practice strategies, tools and resources to support adoption of the Principles into best practice lung cancer care.
These two new resources released by Cancer Australia, used in conjunction with the Lung Cancer Framework, will support health services to provide best practice care and ultimately improve outcomes and experiences for people affected by lung cancer across Australia.
Delivering best practice lung cancer care
These clinical guides for health professionals set out key principles for optimal care at each step of the patient journey from prevention through to survivorship / end of life care.
The guides have been endorsed by the National Cancer Expert Reference Group, Cancer Australia and Cancer Council Australia.
Patients and their family and carers can use the consumer versions to better understand an often complex health system, and to know what questions to ask of their health professionals to ensure they receive the best care at every step.
Help your patients and their family and carers understand the process they are going through by printing and sharing these guides as appropriate.
For more information about lung cancer diagnosis and treatment, see the National Cancer Institute (US) Non-small cell lung cancer treatment – for health professionals (PDQ®) and Small cell lung cancer treatment – for health professionals (PDQ®)*.
*When reading materials that are published in other countries, note that some of the information may not apply to Australian patients