Multidisciplinary teams

Who’s in the MDT?

This depends on the type of cancer you have. Most teams will include a:

• surgeon (who specialises in your type of cancer)
• radiologist (a specialist in x-rays and related scans)
• pathologist (a doctor who studies body tissues)
• oncologists (doctors specialised in chemotherapy and radiotherapy)
• palliative care doctor (a specialist in easing or relieving the symptoms of cancer)
• clinical nurse specialist.

Other health professionals may also be involved, such as a:

• physiotherapist (who helps and treats people with physical problems caused by an illness)
• occupational therapist (who helps people who have trouble moving around or doing everyday tasks such as dressing, washing or cooking)
• therapy radiographer (who gives radiotherapy and can provide information and support)
• psychologist
• dietitian
• speech therapist
• pharmacist.

When an MDT meets, they consider all the scan and test results that you have had since your cancer diagnosis. This helps them to plan the treatment that is most effective for you, taking into account your general health, the size of the cancer  and whether it has spread (its stage) and how quickly it may grow or develop (its grade).

How does an MDT work?

How the team is organised will depend on where you live - they may be slightly different across the UK. Some MDTs discuss patients from different hospitals. Specialists may be on teams for a number of different types of cancer.

How often an MDT meets may also vary. This could mean that you have to wait a bit longer to get all the results of your scans and a treatment plan from your doctor. This can be frustrating and worrying - but the pooling of different types of expertise should mean the best possible decisions are made about your treatment and care.

If waiting for results is making you anxious, you may find it helpful to talk about how you’re feeling with a partner, your family or close friends. You can also talk things over with one of our cancer support specialists.

Benefits of an MDT

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)| recommend that people with cancer should be managed by a multidisciplinary team. People cared for by an MDT are more likely to:

• receive accurate diagnosis and staging
• be offered a choice of treatments decided by a group of experts, rather than by one doctor
• receive better coordination and continuity of care through all stages of the cancer
• be treated in line with locally agreed policies and national guidelines
• be offered appropriate and consistent information (because the person giving the information should be aware of the team’s strategy for your care)
• have their psychological and social needs considered - communication between different team members is better where they have a formal working relationship.

If you’re offered a choice of treatments

It can be difficult if you are offered a choice of treatments and have to decide which to take. There’s a lot of information available to help you make an informed decision|. Your key worker or specialist nurse can also help you. Make sure you have enough information about what the treatments involve and any side effects, and feel free to discuss your choice with a member of your MDT.