Haematology Clinical Lead - Dr Naadir Gutta
Medical Oncology Clinical Lead - Dr Vikram Jain
Catchment criteria may apply for referrals for this service. Patient referrals from outside the Mater SEQ Catchment (which includes Metro South and West Moreton Hospital and Health Services) may not be accepted.
Exception: Mater Haematology Service supports care for patients with haemoglobinopathy across Queensland. As part of this service, referrals for haemoglobinopathy management will be accepted statewide.
This page contains information for general practitioners on how to refer patients aged 16 years and over to Oncology and Heamatology services at Mater Hospital Brisbane. Consultation and treatment is delivered at the Mater Cancer Care Centres at South Brisbane and Springfield. The clinical condition and address for each patient will be considered when determining the consultation/treatment location.
The Mater Cancer Care Centre (MCCC) provides treatment for a wide range of cancers in a multi-disciplinary environment consisting of medical specialists, clinical nurse consultants and specialised nurses with access to allied health services including physiotherapy, psychology, social work, occupational therapy and dietetics. Patients also have access to a range of supportive therapy programs.
Providing patients with access to care and treatment that is specifically designed for individual needs is an essential focus for the Mater Cancer Care Centre team. Patients receive their cancer treatment onsite at the centre and to ensure there are no unnecessary delays with dispensing medicines, pharmacy services are available on-site. The South Brisbane campus also offers access to radiation therapy, an intensive care unit, CT scanner, MRI imaging and pathology.
In addition to providing treatment for a number of Haematological conditions, the autologous stem cell transplantation unit at South Brisbane includes a NATA accredited cryopreservation laboratory for the collection, storage, and re-infusion of peripheral blood haematopoietic stem cells.
The Mater Cancer Care Centre has strong links with clinical trials ranging from early phase studies to multinational phase III studies.
Contact us
If you would like to discuss a referral, including clinical criteria, or update the status of a current patient please contact our priority GP phone line on 07 3163 2200
Emergency care
If any of the following are present or suspected, phone 000 to arrange immediate transfer to the emergency department or seek emergency medical advice if in a remote region:
- Symptoms of airway obstruction, SVC obstruction
- Severe gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding
- Bowel obstruction
- Febrile neutropenia
- Symptomatic hypercalcaemia
- Other organ failure/dysfunction
- Uncontrolled and disabling pain
- Massive haemoptysis and/or stridor
- Neurological signs suggestive of brain metastases or cord compression
- Very high calcium (3.0mmol/L)
- Severe dysphagia with dehydration
- Biopsy proven small cell lung cancer
- Patients with symptoms of shortness of breath, deteriorating organ function
- Metastatic germ cell tumour (GCT) confirmed (biopsy) or suspected (tumour markers)
- Patients with severe symptoms, organ failure or life threatening complications
- Highly aggressive lymphoma
- Burkitt’s lymphoma
- Lymphoblastic lymphoma
- Acute leukaemia
Referral Guideline Development
These Mater Referral Guidelines align with standardised best practice tools for referral to publicly funded specialist outpatient services developed in Queensland through the Clinical Prioritisation Criteria project.
Bulk Billed Clinics
Mater Health Services offers patients the opportunity to attend bulk billed clinics. To provide your patient with the opportunity to attend a bulk billed specialist clinic, please provide a named referral to one of our specialists listed above.
Current Waiting Time for Appointments
We provide up to date data on how long patients are waiting for their first appointment by specialty here.
Conditions in scope
Breast Cancer
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)
- General referral information
- Family history
- Previous cancer treatment details
- FBC ELFTs results
- Histology /cytology results – current +/- previous
- Mammograms results +/- breast US +/- axilla
Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)
- No additional information
Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)
- Women with inflammatory breast cancer receive chemotherapy as their first cancer treatment (not surgery).
- Histology (biopsy or surgical specimen) should include ER/PR/ HER2 neu status
- Serum tumour bio-markers CEA, CA15-3 or others should not be used as diagnostic tests
- For women who have not completed their family, fertility preservation needs to be discussed
- Refer suspected breast lumps through local surgical pathway for further investigation and biopsy
- For patients with incurable (metastatic or recurrent) cancer consider the following:
- documentation of discussions with the patient (and their carers where appropriate) regarding the intent of treatment (anti-cancer therapy to improve quality of life and/or longevity without expectation of cure or symptom palliation), the woman’s prognosis and their understanding of their prognosis
- whether Advance Care Planning (ACP) conversations have been undertaken and their outcome
- specific patient goals and values that may impact on treatment choices
- whether the patient has been referred to a palliative or supportive care service
Care pathway
Categorisation
Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Emergency Treatment Needs discussion with on-call specialist and / or Emergency Department | ||
| ||
Category 1 – Urgent Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days | Category 2 - Priority Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days | Category 3 - Routine Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days |
Inflammatory breast cancer and patients requiring neoadjuvant chemotherapy (biopsy confirmed) For optimum care, patient should be seen within 2 weeks. Breast cancer for adjuvant chemotherapy Metastatic breast cancer (biopsy confirmed) | Patient on adjuvant hormone treatment for breast cancer and has problem with tolerance Previously treated breast cancer patient from another center requiring routine follow-up | No category 3 criteria |
Colorectal Cancer
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)
- General referral information
- Family history
- Previous cancer treatment details
- FBC U&E LFTs CEA results
- Tumour histology report
Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)
- Any relevant XR results and/or relevant CT results
- MRI of pelvis and endorectal US for rectal cancer for selected patients
- PET scan results for selected patients
- Colonoscopy results (if applicable)
Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)
- Most patients with radiological evidence of metastatic cancer need biopsy confirmation. These patients need to be seen by a colorectal surgeon.
- Some patients with liver metastases can undergo curative liver resection
- The majority of stage II and stage III rectal cancer benefit from pre-operative chemotherapy and radiation
- Suspected colorectal cancer due to symptoms or iron deficiency anaemia needs to be referred through local gastroenterology or surgical pathways
- For patients with incurable (metastatic or recurrent) cancer, consideration of the following:
- documentation of discussions with the patient (and their carers where appropriate) regarding the intent of treatment (anti-cancer therapy to improve quality of life and/or longevity without expectation of cure or symptom palliation), the patient’s prognosis and their understanding of their prognosis
- whether Advance Care Planning (ACP) conversations have been undertaken and their outcome
- specific patient goals and values that may impact on treatment choices
- whether the patient has been referred to a palliative or supportive care service
Care pathway
Categorisation
Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Emergency Treatment Needs discussion with on-call specialist and / or Emergency Department | ||
| ||
Category 1 – Urgent Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days | Category 2 - Priority Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days | Category 3 - Routine Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days |
Metastatic colon cancer with rapid progress or organ dysfunction. For optimum care, patient should be seen within 2 weeks. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with radiation prior to surgery (usually referred by Surgeon after MDT). For optimum care, patient should be seen within 2 weeks. Adjuvant treatment after surgery (usually referred after MDT by surgeon) Metastatic colon cancer (De novo or following treatment for early-stage cancer) and has tissue confirmation | No category 2 criteria | No category 3 criteria |
Head and Neck Cancer
Please note Mater does not accept referrals for head and neck cancer. Please refer to local HHS
Lung Cancer
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)
GP essential referral information
- General referral information
- Past medical history, current medications
- Smoking history
- Previous cancer treatment details
- FBC ELFTs results
- Any relevant XR results +/- relevant CT reports
- CT chest, upper abdomen and pelvis
- If available attach CT or MRI of the brain and bone scan
Specialist essential referral information
- General referral information
- Include (GP) essential referral information (as above)
- Tissue pathology +/- cytology results
- Physiological assessment - pulmonary function test if applicable
- Bronchoscopy including endobronchial USS (EBUS) if applicable
- PET scan reports for selected patients
Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)
- No additional information
Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)
- Suspected lung cancers (mass on chest XR or CT chest) needs to be referred to the appropriate specialist (usually respiratory physician) for work-up. Specialist review optimally should be within 2 weeks
- Most referrals for locally advanced disease for concurrent chemotherapy and radiation come through respiratory or cardio-thoracic team and after MDT review
- Suspected spinal cord compression, superior vena cava syndrome (SVC), massive haemoptysis, very high calcium (>3.0mmol/L), febrile neutropenia needs to be referred to emergency urgently
- Lung cancer patients diagnosed and treated via an MDT have improved outcomes
- For patients with incurable (metastatic or recurrent) cancer, consideration of the following:
- documentation of discussions with the patient (and their carers where appropriate) regarding the intent of treatment (anti-cancer therapy to improve quality of life and/or longevity without expectation of cure or symptom palliation), the patient’s prognosis and their understanding of their prognosis
- whether Advance Care Planning (ACP) conversations have been undertaken and their outcome
- specific patient goals and values that may impact on treatment choices
- whether the patient has been referred to a palliative or supportive care service
Care pathway
Categorisation
Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Emergency Treatment Needs discussion with on-call specialist and / or Emergency Department | ||
| ||
Category 1 – Urgent Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days | Category 2 - Priority Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days | Category 3 - Routine Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days |
All small cell lung cancer that does not need emergency treatment (see emergency). For optimum care, patient should be seen within 2 weeks. Biopsy proven non-small cell lung cancer Locally advanced disease for concurrent chemotherapy and radiation Metastatic disease Adjuvant treatment following curative surgery Recurrence following previous treatment (Patients on surveillance after previous treatment for lung malignancy may be referred directly to medical oncology) | Patients with previously treated lung cancer | No category 3 criteria |
Lymphadenopathy for Investigation
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)
- General referral information
- Detailed history of present signs and symptoms
- Past medical history/pertinent social history
- Current medications and allergies
- FBC U&E LFTs LDH CMP results
Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)
- No additional information
Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)
- Suspected spinal cord compression, superior vena cava syndrome (SVC), high calcium (>3.0mmol/L), febrile neutropenia needs to be referred to the emergency department urgently.
- Haematology department accepts referrals of patients with clinically abnormal lymph nodes without a biopsy
- For clinically stable small - volume lymph nodes and in a well patient with normal blood work suggest:
- clinical monitoring and consider a FNA or core biopsy if technically feasible
- for isolated neck lymphadenopathy, fine needle aspiration is usually the first investigation to exclude head and neck squamous cell cancer. Excisional biopsy of isolated neck lymph nodes should only be undertaken once squamous cell cancer has been excluded
Care pathway
Categorisation
Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Emergency Treatment Needs discussion with on-call specialist and / or Emergency Department | ||
| ||
Category 1 – Urgent Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days | Category 2 - Priority Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days | Category 3 - Routine Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days |
Abnormal lymph node (LN) detected clinically or via imaging – and not biopsied (or inconclusive biopsy). If ANY of the following are present the patients should be seen within 2 weeks:
If ALL the following are present an appointment within 4-6 weeks is acceptable:
| Some patients who are clinically well with stable minor enlargement of lymph nodes and normal blood counts may be triaged as a category 2 | No category 3 criteria |
Lymphoma (Newly Diagnosed, Biopsy Confirmed)
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)
- General referral information
- Detailed history of present signs and symptoms
- Past medical history/pertinent social history
- Current medications and allergies
- Histology report
- FBC U&E LDH results
Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)
- Histological diagnosis does not necessarily predict clinical behaviour and as such, some low-grade lymphomas may be treated as Cat 1 urgent and some aggressive lymphomas may be treated as Cat 2. This decision should always be made on clinical assessment
Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)
- If the referring clinician organises a biopsy – please ensure a core or excisional biopsy (not an FNA) is performed along with flow cytometry
- Optimal cancer care pathway for people with Hodgkin and diffuse B-cell lymphomas
Care pathway
Categorisation
Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Emergency Treatment Needs discussion with on-call specialist and / or Emergency Department | ||
| ||
Category 1 – urgent Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days | Category 2 - Priority Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days | Category 3 - Routine Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days |
Aggressive lymphoma
For optimum care, patient should be seen within 2 weeks. Low Grade lymphoma
*Some CLL behaves very indolently and an appointment time within 90 days may be acceptable – this decision will be made by the triaging clinician. | No category 2 criteria | No category 3 criteria |
Multiple Myeloma
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)
- General referral information
- Past medical history, current medications
- Previous cancer treatment details
- FBC, U&E, calcium
- Serum EPP
- Free light chain (FLC)
Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)
- Random (i.e. not 24 hour) urine BJP (highly desirable)
Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)
- If any life-threatening symptoms present (new hypercalcaemia) or severe life-threatening symptoms present (e.g. spinal cord compression, SVC compression, ureteric compression, airway compromise etc.) – then call the haematologist on call, or send direct to emergency.
- Bone scans are usually negative for the lytic lesions seen in myeloma. Plain film skeletal survey is recommended.
- IgM monoclonal protein is exceedingly rare in myeloma and is more commonly seen in low grade lymphomas.
Categorisation
Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Emergency Treatment Needs discussion with on-call specialist and / or Emergency Department | ||
| ||
Category 1 – Urgent Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days | Category 2 - Priority Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days | Category 3 - Routine Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days |
PRESENCE OF ONE IS REQUIRED
AND if ANY of the following present
| PRESENCE OF ONE IS REQUIRED
AND if ALL of the following present
Categorisation depends on subtype and amount of monoclonal protein | No category 3 criteria |
Testicular Cancer
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)
- General referral information
- Past medical history, current medications
- Previous cancer treatment details
- Histopathology
- FBC U&E LFT Alpha-fetoprotein ß-human chorionic gonadotropin LDC results
- Any relevant XR results and/or relevant CT results
Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)
- No additional information
Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)
- Patients with testicular mass should be referred to Urologists
- Discuss sperm banking with the patient prior to treatment. Sperm count (with or without banking as appropriate) if fertility is a concern
- In very rare cases where there is a possibility of a benign tumour, excisional biopsy with a frozen section should be performed prior to definitive orchiectomy to allow for possibility of organ-sparing partial orchiectomy
- If there are signs suggestive of metastases, consider:
- brain and spinal CT
- bone scan
- liver USS
- brain or bone MRI
Categorisation
Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Emergency Treatment Needs discussion with on-call specialist and / or Emergency Department | ||
| ||
Category 1 – Urgent Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days | Category 2 - Priority Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days | Category 3 - Routine Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days |
Metastatic germ cell tumour (GCT)-confirmed (biopsy, orchidectomy) not requiring emergency treatment (see emergency) For optimum care, patient should be seen within 2 weeks. Resected GCT (after orchidectomy) for consideration of adjuvant chemotherapy or surveillance | No category 2 criteria | No category 3 criteria |
Other Oncology and Haematology Conditions
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)
- General referral information
- Relevant condition information
- Relevant pathology and imaging reports
- Histology
- Operative Reports
- Previous cancer treatments
Categorisation
Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Category 1 – urgent Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days | Category 2 - Priority Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days | Category 3 - Routine Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days |