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Introduction Driven by the need to reduce risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and optimise use of health system resources, while maximising patient outcomes, the COVID‐19 pandemic has prompted unprecedented changes in cancer care. Some new or modified health care practices adopted during the pandemic will be of long term value in improving the quality and resilience of cancer care in Australia and internationally. The Cancer Australia consensus statement is intended to guide and enhance the delivery of cancer care during the pandemic and in a post‐pandemic environment. This article summarises the full statement, which is available at https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/covid-19/covid-19-recovery-implications-cancer-care. Main recommendations The statement is informed by a desktop literature review and input from cancer experts and consumers at a virtual roundtable, held in July 2020, on key elements of cancer care that changed during the pandemic. It describes targeted strategies (at system, service, practitioner and patient levels) to retain, enhance and embed high value changes in practice. Principal strategies include: implementing innovative models of care that are digitally enabled and underpinned by clear governance, policies and procedures to guide best practice cancer care; enabling health professionals to deliver evidence‐based best practice and coordinated, person‐centred cancer care; and empowering patients to improve health literacy and enhancing their ability to engage in informed, shared decision making. Changes in management as a result of this statement Widespread adoption of high value health care practices across all levels of the cancer control sector will be of considerable benefit to the delivery of optimal cancer care into the future.

Screening for cognitive impairment in community settings yielded results consistent with expected effects of age and education. The event attracted a large proportion of individuals with memory concerns; 88.1% were told that they did not have memory problems detectible with the tests used. Further studies are needed to assess how participants respond to and use screening information, whether this information ultimately influences decision-making or outcomes, and whether memory screening programs outside healthcare settings have public health value.

PURPOSE With successive infection waves and the spread of more infectious variants, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have major impacts on health care. To achieve best outcomes for patients with cancer during a pandemic, efforts to minimize the increased risk of severe pandemic infection must be carefully balanced against unintended adverse impacts of the pandemic on cancer care, with consideration to available health system capacity. Cancer Australia's conceptual framework for cancer care during a pandemic provides a planning resource for health services and policy-makers that can be broadly applied globally and to similar pandemics. METHODS Evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care and health system capacity to June 2021 was reviewed, and the conceptual framework was developed and updated. RESULTS Components of health system capacity vary during a pandemic, and capacity relative to pandemic numbers and severity affects resources available for cancer care delivery. The challenges of successive pandemic waves and high numbers of pandemic cases necessitate consideration of changing health system capacity in decision making about cancer care. Cancer Australia’s conceptual framework provides guidance on continuation of care across the cancer pathway, in the face of challenges to health systems, while minimizing infection risk for patients with cancer and unintended consequences of delays in screening, diagnosis, and cancer treatment and backlogs because of service interruption. CONCLUSION Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic supports continuation of cancer care wherever possible during similar pandemics. Cancer Australia's conceptual framework, underpinned by principles for optimal cancer care, informs decision making across the cancer care continuum. It incorporates consideration of changes in health system capacity and capacity for cancer care, in relation to pandemic progression, enabling broad applicability to different global settings.

e18628 Background: At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a plan for cancer management during a pandemic did not exist. It soon became clear that without proper planning, cancer outcomes would worsen. Cancer patients are at increased risk of COVID-19 infection, morbidity, and mortality. Health sectors internationally reduced or paused non-urgent cancer care to protect cancer patients from COVID-19. However, disproportionate delays in screening, diagnosis, and treatment can unduly impact cancer outcomes, and backlogs can further burden a strained health system. Tailored approaches to cancer management are required which balance health resource availability along with the risks of exposure and benefits of treatment. Australia’s relatively low COVID-19 case numbers afforded Cancer Australia an opportunity to proactively plan for optimal cancer management during this, and future, pandemics. Methods: Cancer Australia’s Cancer care in the time of COVID-19: A conceptual framework for the management of cancer during a pandemic (the framework) maps evidence-based cancer care considerations in relation to a health system’s capacity across acute and recovery pandemic phases, in relation to steps of the cancer care pathway. The framework promotes infection control and resource prioritisation in the context of innovative care models, triaging approaches and individualised treatment plans, underpinned by effective communication and shared decision-making. Results: The framework supports health system planning and risk-stratified approaches to guide decision-making and improve cancer outcomes. Many aspects of cancer care are recommended to continue (to varying degrees) in most pandemic phases, with modifications or pauses in some aspects of care as the pandemic curve approaches or exceeds health system capacity. Principles of the framework were employed during the second wave of COVID-19 in the Australian state of Victoria, with continuation of cancer screening programs, diagnostic investigations, and treatments wherever it was safe to do so. This resulted in reductions in cancer services and treatment being relatively smaller than in the first wave. Conclusions: Cancer management in a pandemic is not a one-size-fits-all. Countries and jurisdictions need to tailor cancer care according to the risk of the health system becoming overwhelmed. The framework guides optimal cancer care to improve outcomes for people with cancer, while minimising COVID-19 infection. As further evidence becomes available from this pandemic or in future pandemics, this framework can be refined to inform ongoing and future pandemic health system planning.