Key areas of support for patients treated for cancer are lacking and most services aren’t accessible beyond five years after treatment, Australian researchers say.

Information gathered across all states and territories found patients are poorly served for issues such as fatigue management, sexual health and return to work.

The survey, conducted in 2019-20 before the COVID-19 pandemic, also shows low utilisation of telehealth and digital resources.

In what they believe is the most comprehensive study on the topic to date, researchers from the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane and the Queensland University of Technology aimed to map the state of supportive care across Australia.