Who will I meet?

Within our hospital, there are teams of professionals who work together to manage your care. They are called your Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT).

You may meet some of your team during your appointments or any planned treatment. Other members of the teamwork behind the scenes and you will not meet them but they are all very important members of your MDT.

Doctor – this is an expert doctor, also referred to as a Specialist. They may be a Surgeon, Medical Doctor, Oncologist (Cancer Specialist), Haematologist (Blood Cancer Specialist) or Palliative Care Doctor (specialising in symptom management or when your cancer is not able to be cured). You may have more than one of these doctors involved in your care.

Clinical Nurse Specialist – this is a nurse who is an expert in your type of cancer. The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is also likely to be your key worker who can help you to understand your treatment options and support you through your cancer pathway.

Cancer Care Navigator – This is an individual who works closely with your CNS/key worker and can provide information, education, identify concerns and refer you to other available resources and support.

Radiologist – This is a specialist doctor who is trained to look at scans, this includes CT scans, MRI scan and x-rays. They will often not be known to you but they will contribute their knowledge and skills to planning and improving your care.

Pathologist – This is a specialist doctor who studies cells and will analyse biopsies or tissue samples to assist with your diagnosis. These specialist doctors will often not be known to you but they will contribute their knowledge and skills to planning and improving your care.

You may have other health care professionals involved, depending on your cancer type, your treatment and other concerns you may have.  This team can change as your needs change but some of this group may include: Radiographer, Dietitian, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Social worker, Psychologist.

If you would be interested in reading more information on Multi-Disciplinary Teams and how they are involved in your care and treatments, you can find out more here: MDT (multidisciplinary team) for cancer – Macmillan Cancer Support