Precision Diagnostics for Definitive Clinical DecisionsUnderstanding cancer. Navigating treatment. Living beyond cancer.
A patient-centred oncology information hub connecting diagnosis, treatment education, supportive care, nutrition and survivorship.
Understanding Cancer
Cancer types, symptoms, risk factors, screening, diagnosis, staging and grading.
Cancer Library →Treatment Modalities
Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
Explore treatments →Cancer Medicines
Educational information about treatment classes, common side effects, monitoring and questions to discuss with the oncology team.
Medicines & side effects →Nutrition & Dietetics
Practical education about maintaining nutrition, hydration, appetite and food safety during treatment.
Nutrition →Living With Cancer
Emotional wellbeing, family communication, daily life, supportive care and caregiver information.
Living with cancer →Life After Cancer
Survivorship, follow-up, long-term effects, healthy living and return to everyday activities.
Survivorship →How cancer treatment may be approached.
Surgery
May remove a localized tumour, obtain diagnostic tissue or address complications. The approach depends on tumour type, stage, location and patient factors.
Chemotherapy
Uses medicines that affect cancer cells. Treatment is often delivered in cycles, with monitoring for effectiveness and adverse effects.
Radiotherapy
Uses ionizing radiation to treat selected cancers, either as a primary treatment or alongside other modalities.
Hormone therapy
Used for selected hormone-responsive cancers, including some breast and prostate cancers, based on tumour biology.
Targeted therapy
Targets specific molecular features of cancer. Biomarker testing may be important for selecting appropriate therapy.
Immunotherapy
Uses medicines that alter immune responses against cancer. Eligibility depends on cancer type, biomarkers and clinical circumstances.
Understand your treatment before you start.
Patient education should help people know what questions to ask and when to contact their treatment team.
Common side effects
Depending on treatment: fatigue, nausea, appetite changes, mouth problems, bowel changes, skin/hair changes and neuropathy may occur.
Monitoring
Some treatments require blood tests, clinical reviews, imaging or other monitoring. The schedule is individualized by the treating team.
When to seek help
New, severe, rapidly worsening or concerning symptoms should be discussed promptly with the oncology team; urgent symptoms require urgent medical assessment.
Nutrition is part of supportive cancer care.
The goal is generally to support adequate nutrition and hydration while adapting to symptoms, treatment effects and individual needs.
- Maintaining adequate food and fluid intake
- Protein and energy needs
- Managing reduced appetite
- Nausea and taste changes
- Mouth discomfort
- Constipation or diarrhoea
- Food safety
- When to see a dietitian
Nutrition myths
“I should stop all carbohydrates.”
There is no universal cancer diet. Nutrition plans should be individualized.
“Supplements are always necessary.”
Supplements are not automatically required and may interact with some treatments.
“Herbal products are always safe.”
Some products can interact with medicines. Discuss supplements and herbal products with the treatment team.
Care extends beyond the treatment room.
Support may include emotional wellbeing, sleep, physical activity appropriate to the individual's condition, family communication, work or school planning, caregiver support, financial navigation and palliative/supportive care.
Experienced Pathologists
Specialist interpretation and reporting are supported by experienced pathologists within the PATHOSURE® diagnostic workflow.