Neurological cancer surgery specialist centres
Criteria for a specialist neurological cancer centre
Primary neurological cancer is also referred to as cancer of the brain or spinal cord.[1] Treatment for brain or spinal cord cancer may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, emerging therapies or palliative care. Many people with neurological cancer have a combination of these treatments. [2–4]
It is recommended that specialist neurological cancer centres meet the following criteria:
- perform 12 resections per year* and
- have a multidisciplinary cancer care team listed on Canrefer
* This minimum suggested annual surgical caseload has been selected based on the hospital-level distribution of neurological cancer resections in NSW.
Multidisciplinary cancer care team
All people diagnosed with neurological cancer should have their care overseen by a multidisciplinary cancer care team to develop an integrated and individualised treatment management plan. [3-4]
The involvement of a multidisciplinary cancer care team is required. [3-4 ] This team brings together health care professionals from different specialties to discuss a patient’s cancer diagnosis and staging, and their treatment options. It also enhances communication and care co-ordination between the specialists involved in a patient’s care.
Australian and international studies state that patients overseen by a multidisciplinary cancer care team experience better outcomes after cancer treatment.[3-4]
Actions for Health Professionals
Patient referral
Patients with a suspected or confirmed neurological cancer should be referred to a specialist who is a member of a multidisciplinary cancer care team, and practices at one of the specialist centres listed below.
Even if surgery does not seem likely at the time of referral, involvement of an appropriate multidisciplinary team (MDT) early in the cancer journey is recommended to ensure optimal assessment, care, and outcomes.
The Canrefer website allows you to find cancer specialists who are MDT members, and has information about cancer services, optimal care pathways, and patient resources.
Smoking cessation support
Evidence suggests that tobacco cessation following cancer diagnosis improves survival. It also reduces treatment-related complications.[5-7] Health professionals should discuss tobacco use with all patients and provide appropriate cessation support.
List of public specialist centres for neurological cancer surgery
Local health district | Hospital | Annual average neurological resection caseload Jan 2020 - Dec 2021 |
Hunter New England | John Hunter | 41-60 |
Sydney | Royal Prince Alfred | 41-60 |
Western Sydney | Westmead | 21-40 |
Northern Sydney | Royal North Shore | 21-40 |
South Eastern Sydney | St George | 21-40 |
South Western Sydney | Liverpool | 21-40 |
South Eastern Sydney | Prince of Wales | 21-40 |
Illawarra Shoalhaven | Wollongong | 12-20 |
Nepean Blue Mountains | Nepean | 12-20 |
St Vincent's Health Network | St Vincents Hospital, Darlinghurst | 12-20 |
Sydney | Concord | 12-20 |
List of private specialist centres for neurological cancer surgery
| Local health district | Hospital | Annual average neurological resection caseload Jul 2019 - Jun 2021 |
South Eastern Sydney | Prince of Wales Private | 61-80 |
Western Sydney | Westmead Private | 41-60 |
Northern Sydney | North Shore Private | 21-40 |
South Eastern Sydney | St George Private | 21-40 |
South Eastern Sydney | St Vincent's Private | 21-40 |
Sydney | Chris O'Brien Lifehouse | 12-20 |
Northern Sydney | Macquarie University | 12-20 |
- Cancer Institute NSW. Cancer Statistics NSW [Internet]. Sydney, NSW. 2022; accessed 12 Aug 2022. Available from: https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/ data-research/access-our-data/cancer-statistics-nsw#//analysis/incidence.
- . Cancer Council Australia. Understanding Brain Tumours. Sydney, NSW. 2021; accessed 25 Aug 2022. Available from: https://www.cancer.org.au/assets/ pdf/understanding-brain-tumour-booklet.
- Cancer Institute NSW (Canrefer). Brain and spinal cord cancer treatment near Sydney [Internet]. Sydney, NSW. 2021; accessed 25 Aug 2022. Available from: https://www.canrefer.org.au/cancer-types/neurological-cancer/sydney-nsw
- Cancer Australia and Cancer Council Victoria. Optimal care pathway for people with high-grade glioma: second edition [Internet]. Canberra, ACT. 2021; accessed 17 Aug 2022. Available from: https://www.cancervic.org.au/downloads/health-professionals/ocp/CC%20OCP%20High-grade%20glioma%20 2021.pdf.
- Karam-Hage M, et al. Tobacco use and cessation for cancer survivors: an overview for clinicians. CA Cancer J Clin. 2014. 64(4):272–to90.
- Warren GW, et al. The biological and clinical effects of smoking by patients with cancer and strategies to implement evidence-based tobacco cessation support. Lancet Oncol. 2014. 15(12):e568–to80.
- Florou AN, et al. Clinical significance of smoking cessation in subjects with cancer: a 30-year review. Respir Care. 2014. 59(12):1924–to36.