When you're diagnosed with cancer, your treatment plan will be discussed by a team of experts to decide what's best for you, called a multidisciplinary team (MDT).
This article was first published in February 2009.
Who's who in cancer treatment
Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology
Multidisciplinary team (MDT)
Your MDT will usually meet every week to discuss the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients, and will:
- Talk about your planned treatment
- Decide if you need any more tests
- Make referrals to other services if needed
The MDT usually involves staff from different hospitals and has a number of members, but other specialists may join the team if they‘re needed.
A typical MDT may include:
- Lead clinician (usually a medical doctor or surgeon) - this person will take responsibility for the service
- Surgeon - an expert in the type of operations that may be needed to treat your cancer
- Oncologist - an expert in the treatment of your type of cancer with radiotherapy or chemotherapy
- Radiologist - this person will be responsible for undertaking and reporting on your tests in the x-ray department
- Pathologist - they will look at tissue and cell samples through a microscope
- Clinical nurse specialist - this person has expert knowledge and skills caring for patients with your type of cancer
- Radiographer - the person responsible for planning, delivering and monitoring radiotherapy treatment if needed
- Nurses who are specially trained
- Support staff including social workers, welfare benefits advisors, hospital chaplaincy
- Other staff known as allied healthcare professionals, including dieticians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists
Your clinical nurse specialist is your link with the MDT. If something is bothering you, then ask, and if they're unable to answer any concerns you may have, they will find out for you.
Your GP will also be kept up to date with what is happening to you by letter from your consultant.
Staff are there to make sure that each patient gets the same, high standard of care and has the most appropriate tests and treatment for their type of cancer. The team will keep up to date with changes and improvements in their area of expertise, this means all patients should get the best possible care, regardless of their GP or hospital they attend.
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