Multidisciplinary team (MDT) for gynaecological cancers
If you have a gynaecological cancer, a multidisciplinary team (MDT) will look at many factors to help decide which treatments are likely to work best for you.
What is a multidisciplinary team (MDT)?
If you have been diagnosed with cancer, a team of specialists will meet to talk about the best treatment for you. They are called a multidisciplinary team (MDT).
The MDT looks at national treatment guidelines or the latest evidence for the type of cancer you have. If you have any treatment preferences, your doctor will tell them about this.
If you have a gynaecological cancer, you should be treated by a specialist gynaecological cancer MDT. Gynaecological cancers include:
- cervical cancer
- fallopian tube cancer
- germ cell ovarian cancer
- ovarian cancer
- primary peritoneal cancer
- vaginal cancer
- vulval cancer
- womb cancer.
MDTs are based in larger cancer centres, so you may have to travel for your treatment. They will meet to discuss and decide the best treatment for you. They will consider your own wishes too.
Related pages
Who will be in my MDT?
Your MDT may include:
- a gynaecological oncologist – a surgeon who specialises in cancers of the female reproductive system
- a gynaecologist – a doctor who treats problems with the female reproductive system
- a medical oncologist – a doctor who uses chemotherapy and other anti-cancer drugs to treat people with cancer
- a clinical oncologist – a doctor who uses radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other anti-cancer drugs to treat people with cancer
- a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) – a nurse who gives information about cancer, and support during treatment
- a plastic surgeon – a doctor who specialises in reconstructive surgery if you have vulval cancer
- a radiologist – a doctor who looks at scans and x-rays to diagnose problems
- a pathologist – a doctor who looks at cells or body tissue under a microscope to diagnose cancer.
Depending on the type of cancer you have, the MDT may also include:
- a physiotherapist
- a dietitian
- an occupational therapist
- a counsellor or psychologist
- doctors and nurses who are experts in symptom control.
After your MDT meeting
After the MDT meeting, you will usually see your cancer doctor and specialist nurse. They will talk to you about your treatment plan. It can help to write down your questions before you see them.
You should also be given a telephone number for your specialist nurse or key worker who you can contact if you have any questions when you get home.
About our information
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer.
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References
If you would like more information about the sources we use in our gynaecological cancer information, please contact us at informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk
Date reviewed
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The language we use
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We want our information to be as clear as possible. To do this, we try to:
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- explain medical words
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We use gender-inclusive language and talk to our readers as ‘you’ so that everyone feels included. Where clinically necessary we use the terms ‘men’ and ‘women’ or ‘male’ and ‘female’. For example, we do so when talking about parts of the body or mentioning statistics or research about who is affected.
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