The care pathway for individuals undergoing surgery for cancer can be associated with significant information, support and care coordination needs. The SCN works in close collaboration with the treating surgical team, and the MDT, in the planning and coordination of the individual's cancer journey.
The pre-operative management of an individual with cancer can be complex. While people with cancer can be similar in many ways to those without cancer, the direct and indirect effects of the cancer, and the effects of adjuvant cancer therapy, can influence pre-operative evaluation and management. Pre-operative evaluation involves:
- individual assessment
- site specific assessment
- pre-operative education.
Following pre-operative evaluation, specific care requirements are associated with the:
- intra-operative period
- post-operative period
- discharge from hospital.