When the COVID-19 pandemic first began, planning for cancer management during a pandemic had not been considered, nor defined. It was crucial for healthcare systems globally to take responsive action in order to provide optimal cancer care across the various phases of the pandemic. Cancer Australia has leveraged the opportunity to undertake a range of evidence-based and data-informed initiatives to understand the potential impacts of the pandemic on cancer investigations and treatment, and to inform optimal cancer management during and beyond the pandemic. Despite the many challenges, the pandemic has prompted high value and innovative changes in the delivery of cancer care, with newly acquired knowledge and experiences shaping considerations for changes in standard practice moving forward.
With consideration of health system constraints in various epidemiological scenarios of COVID-19 infections, Cancer Australia developed a conceptual framework to guide optimal cancer management across the care pathway during the COVID-19 pandemic, and potentially any future pandemic. We expanded this framework in 2021 to reflect updated evidence and learnings from the pandemic. We also informed health system delivery by identifying and promoting strategies to embed high value healthcare practices, prompted by the pandemic, into standard care across the health system and cancer sector. Additionally, Cancer Australia provided information to the Australian cancer community, including tailored resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culturally and linguistically diverse communities affected by cancer, about the COVID-19 vaccines and cancer. To fill a critical gap in understanding about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines for cancer patients, Cancer Australia expedited the rapid establishment of a clinical study for the COVID-19 vaccines in people with cancer in Australia.
Building on lived experience, Cancer Australia will continue to provide national leadership to inform cancer control policy and cancer care during and beyond the pandemic.