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Multidisciplinary team
What is a multidisciplinary team?
A multidisciplinary team (or MDT) is a team of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals with expert knowledge in cancer care. The members of a multidisciplinary team will vary depending on the type of cancer being discussed.
Generally, the team will consist of:
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Specialist surgeon
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Doctor who removes cancer from the body or repairs a part of the body affected by cancer. Cancer surgery is performed by surgeons, who specialise in operations involving specific parts of the body. |
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Medical oncologist
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Doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating cancer and specifically, using medications to treat cancer. |
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Radiation oncologist
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Doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating cancer and specifically, in using radiation to treat cancer. |
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Pathologist
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Doctor who specialises in looking at cells, tissues, and organs to diagnose disease. |
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Specialist physician
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Doctor with speciality in a particular area of medicine who can diagnose, manage and treat certain conditions eg. Neurologist, Respiratory Physician. |
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Specialist nurse |
Nurse who specialises in cancer care which may include giving treatment, education and coordinating care for patients. |
How does a multidisciplinary team work?
A multidisciplinary cancer care team works together to diagnose and develop personalised treatment plans for people with cancer and reviews their treatment during and after completion.
Why are multidisciplinary teams important?
The multidisciplinary team allows doctors and health professionals to work together to plan your care. It reduces the time needed to get information about your cancer and to develop and start a treatment plan. Multidisciplinary teams also improve communication, decision making and coordination of your care. Your GP is also provided with updates on the suggested plan.