The diagnosis and management of cancer is a complex process, requiring the expertise of many highly trained individuals.

The diagnosis and management of cancer is a complex process, requiring the expertise of many highly trained individuals.  You may or may not have noticed that that there are many different health care providers taking care of you, each lending their specific expertise to your case.  This is your multidisciplinary team. 

A multidisciplinary team brings together specialists from many fields, including physicians such as medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologist, pathologists, and other health care professionals such as nurses, physical therapists, or social workers.  The purpose of a multidisciplinary team is to take advantage of the knowledge, skills, and experience that each health care provider has to offer so that you receive the best care possible.  Listed below are some of the different physicians that may take care of you: 

• Medical oncologist: A medical doctor who has expertise in the diagnosis and management of cancer.  A medical oncologist can prescribe chemotherapy to treat your cancer and is usually the primary doctor taking care of your cancer-related problems.
• Radiation oncologist: A medical doctor focuses on using radiation to treat cancer.  Examples of radiation therapy are external beam radiation, brachytherapy, and radioimmunotherapy.  
• Surgical oncologist: A trained surgeon who has specialized expertise in treating cancer with surgery. 
• Pathologist: Although you will likely never meet the pathologist, this medical doctor plays an essential role in the diagnosis of your cancer.  These doctors are highly trained to evaluate blood and tissue samples to make an accurate diagnosis of your cancer.  This is a critical step because further treatment for your cancer depends on this diagnosis. 
• Other specialist doctors: Depending on the complications from your cancer or treatment, it is possible that other doctors who specialize in other areas may contribute to your care.  Examples include doctors that specialize in treating infections, the gastrointestinal system, the nervous system, and many others. 

Other health care providers that may also take care of you include:

• Physician Assistant: Physicians assistants have become more prominent figures in health care in the recent past, and therefore are likely to be part of your cancer care team. Physicians assistants are licensed health care professionals who are able to perform many of the functions essential to your diagnosis and treatment under the direct supervision of a physician. 
• Nurse: Your nurse plays an important role your overall care.  Most often, the nurses taking care of you have a special certification in oncology, which means they have completed special training and have lots of experience taking care of cancer patients. These individuals often include advanced practice nurses (e.g., nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists) who have more specialized training in certain areas of expertise. 
• Social worker: A social worker plays an important role in helping you navigate today’s complex health care system and facilitate any needs you may have when coping with cancer.  Additionally, social workers can help you with any questions you may have about paying for cancer treatment.  
• Physical and occupational therapist: If a complication of cancer or cancer treatment leaves you physically weak, these therapists will help you regain your strength so you can perform some basic functions at home. 

One disadvantage of having so many providers is that sometimes one doctor will not know what tests, medications, or treatments another doctor ordered, prescribed, or recommended.  To help with this process, there are a couple of things you can do:

• There is probably one doctor that you have identified as coordinating your cancer care between all your specialists and your primary care physician.  This is most likely your medical oncologist.  When you see another provider, make sure the doctor coordinating your cancer care is kept informed about what happened during that visit. 
• Always keep a current list of the medications you are taking, and bring this list to all your doctor appointments, tests, procedures, or if you have to go to the hospital.
• It helps to take notes and keep track of what tests or scans were done, so that unnecessary repeat tests or scans can be avoided.