Multidisciplinary Review

Our Multidisciplinary Approach

Multidisciplinary care allows all relevant disciplines to contribute to decisions about the care of patients with cancer. Using a team approach to cancer care ensures there is input from all disciplines, not just one. This provides up to date evidence-based recommendations for effective treatment.

Multidisciplinary team (MDT) care is an integrated team approach to health care, in which medical and allied health care professionals consider all relevant treatment options, and collaboratively develop an individual treatment plan for each patient. 

In Australia it is considered a best practice for cancer treatment to be managed through a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach. This means that all relevant health professionals involved in your care meet to discuss the best treatment options for you and work together to:

• Diagnose
• Collaborate
• Make Treatment Recommendations
• Define Treatment Plan

In this way you can be assured that your treatment is tailored specifically to you, by a team of leading cancer specialists.

Key Review Principles

• Communication among team members regarding treatment planning
• Access to the full range of treatment options for all patients
• Provision of care in accordance with nationally agreed standards

Benefits of Multidisciplinary Care

• Receive care in accordance with national clinical standards and practice guidelines
• Access to the full range of treatment options for all patients, regardless of their geographical location
• Provides up to date evidence-based recommendations for effective treatment
• All treatment options can be considered, and treatment plans tailored for individual patients
• Referral pathways are more likely to be streamlined and care is coordinated.
• Security for the patient that care is being managed by a team
• Increased access to information, particularly about psychosocial and practical support.
• Increased patient satisfaction with care

The Multidisciplinary Team

There are several specialties who meet to discuss your individual case. The following health professionals may participate in the care of a your treatment:

• Surgeon: specialises in surgery, including biopsies
• Pathologist: examines cells, tissue and blood from the body
• Radiologist: examines mammograms, ultrasounds, X-rays and other imaging results and may perform biopsies or help locate cancers prior to surgery
• Radiation oncologist: specialises in radiotherapy
• Medical oncologist: specialises in cancer drugs such as hormonal therapies, chemotherapy and targeted therapies
• Cancer care nurse: specialises in caring for people with cancer
• Research nurse: assists in the planning and coordination of clinical research studies and clinical trials
• Psychologist, psychiatrist or counsellor: specialise in providing emotional support and managing anxiety and depression
• Social worker: specialises in providing emotional support, counselling and advice about some practical and legal matters
• Physiotherapist, occupational therapist: assist with exercise and pain management
• Dietitian: specialises in providing advice about what to eat
• Palliative care specialist: specialise in providing practical support and symptom relief
• Plastic surgeon: specialises in reconstruction after surgery

Surgeons

Your surgeon will present your case to the multidisciplinary meeting. There will be other cancer surgeons present. Together they will agree on the best course for your surgical management.

Pathologists

The Pathologist who attends the MDT meeting is there to present the biopsy (prior to surgery) or surgical specimen (after surgery). They discuss the microscopic findings to assist in the planning of your definitive treatment.

Radiologists

The Radiologist uses their imaging expertise in the diagnosis of tumours and assessing the extent. They help identify local structures that may be at risk and also can perform biopsies to aid a diagnosis.

Medical Oncologists

A medical oncologist treats cancer using chemotherapy or other medications, such as targeted therapy or immunotherapy. At the meeting, it will be decided whether it is appropriate for you to see a medical oncologist.

Radiation Oncologists

A Radiation Oncologist is a medical specialist doctor with training in the use of radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) to cure or reduce the symptoms of cancer. Many patients will require a consultation with a radiation oncologist, and this will be discussed at the meeting.

Cancer Care Nurses

Cancer nurses are a key point of contact between the treating doctors and patients and are important for the continuity of care of cancer patients. The Cancer care nurse will be present at the meeting to ensure they are fully up to date with your treatment recommendations.

Genetic Cancer Team

The genetic cancer team at Prince of Wales Hospital provides individuals with an accurate assessment of their personal risk for developing cancer and offers a plan for follow-up and preventive care. You will be referred to the genetics team if your doctor, or anyone else at the multidisciplinary meeting believes you are at risk of a potential gene mutation.