To the Editor: The Supplement on palliative care (15 Sep 2003) provided a welcome overview of this critical area of clinical practice. 1 Many of the articles emphasised the generalist nature of palliative care and the importance of multidisciplinary care and teamwork.

Recently published guidelines2 now provide evidence-based information on psychosocial aspects of care for health professionals working in the field, as well as surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, general practitioners, nurses, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. These are the world’s first comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines on the social, psychological and economic impacts of cancer and how these can be better prevented, managed and treated by health professionals. They cover the whole spectrum of cancer care, from diagnosis through to treatment and palliation.

The guidelines are based on comprehensive and systematic reviews of the international research literature and an extensive consultative process to ensure their clinical relevance. Developed by the National Breast Cancer Centre and the National Cancer Control Initiative (NCCI) and funded by the Federal Government, the guidelines were approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in April 2003. The guidelines cover the most commonly occurring cancers: colorectal, breast, gynaecological, head-and-neck, lung, pancreatic, prostate and urogenital cancers, and melanoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Recommendations for clinical practice are rated according to NHMRC levels of evidence.3

Four main areas are addressed by the guidelines:

• understanding the challenges of cancer and how people react;

• provision of care by the treatment team to all patients with cancer;

• referral for specialised care;

• issues requiring special consideration — culture, age, geography and sexual orientation.

The guidelines were developed to assist health professionals in supporting adult cancer patients. This includes providing information and choice to patients, helping them deal with procedures and treatments, providing emotional and social support, ensuring continuity of care, and dealing with specific concerns that may arise, including anxiety and depression.

The guidelines can be accessed at the NCCI’s website (www.ncci.org.au), or hard copies can be obtained from the National Breast Cancer Centre.