Your Multidisciplinary Cancer Team (MDT)
Information for patients across all East Kent Hospitals
This leaflet provides information about the team responsible for your care and treatment. We hope it will answer some of the questions that you or those who care for you may have. This leaflet is not meant to replace the discussion between you and your healthcare team. It aims to help you understand more about what has been discussed.
We are all individuals. We cope in different ways and need different lengths of time to adjust to a cancer diagnosis.
You may want to discuss your worries or concerns with your Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), also known as your keyworker. The CNS can provide you with help and advice.
If you are in hospital, you may meet the Acute Oncology Team, who can also support you. The team will liaise with your Macmillan CNS and the wider team.
What is a multidisciplinary team? What do they do?
Following your recent diagnosis of cancer or suspected cancer, you will receive support and treatment from different clinicians. These clinicians form the multidisciplinary team (MDT).
The MDT who will plan treatment and care that is appropriate for you. The MDT includes doctors, nurses, and other professionals.
To do this, most MDTs meet every week.
They discuss patients with a suspected new cancer diagnosis at a multidisciplinary meeting (MDM).
Each MDM has a cancer speciality (for example thyroid cancer or breast cancer).
At the MDM the team also review the cases of some patients who have previously had a cancer diagnosis.
They will discuss the investigations and treatment options available to you.
Most patients have more than one specialist involved in their care.
It is essential that everyone shares their expertise and understanding about your case.
You will not personally meet all the members of the team or come to the MDM.
Your team will discuss with you any decisions made at the MDM. This discussion will either be at your next appointment or while you are in hospital. Your team will also answer any questions you have. These could include questions about the benefits and risks of the treatments available.
The team will send your GP a copy of the plan from the meeting, so your GP is also aware of the discussions. This is usually sent electronically on the next working day.
Who is included in the MDT?
The following professionals are the key members of the MDT.
Your Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), also known as your keyworker. The CNS acts as a point of contact for you and your family throughout your treatment. They will give you help, advice, and support. They will know your case, and will help plan your assessments and investigations. They will also make sure:
other healthcare professionals know the findings from your investigations
that the findings are explained to you, so that the right plan of care can be put in place
A cancer surgeon is a specialist in cancer surgery. They have expertise either in a specific type of cancer, or a small group of related cancers.
Specialist doctors who have specialist knowledge of your specific type of cancer.
A radiologist is a doctor who specialises in interpreting x-rays and scans. The radiologist can help make a diagnosis of cancer.
A medical / clinical oncologist is a specialist in using chemotherapy and other drugs for the treatment of cancer. A clinical oncologist is a specialist in the use of radiotherapy, as well as chemotherapy.
A cellular pathologist is a doctor who specialises in using a microscope, to examine the tissue or cells removed during a procedure or operation. Cellular pathologists can detect features of cell structure, which show abnormalities. They can help confirm a diagnosis of cancer.
The MDT coordinator gives administrative support. They also:
prepare information for the weekly MDT meetings
if needed, help send and receive information from other hospitals
send the MDM plan to your GP
There are other members of the wider MDM team that may be relevant to you and the type of cancer you have. These include:
consultant nurses
dieticians
stoma nurses
palliative care
the Acute Oncology Nursing team
cancer support workers who work closely with your CNS
What type of treatment will I have?
Every person diagnosed with cancer is different. We base decisions about what treatment is appropriate for you on your test results, and how you are as an individual. We can give you leaflets about your treatment options. Please speak to your CNS for further information and copies of the relevant leaflets.
We may offer you one (or a combination) of the following treatment options.
Surgery
Chemotherapy and / or immunotherapy (anti-cancer drugs)
Radiotherapy
Supportive care and palliative care
Referral to a specialist hospital, usually in London
“Watch and wait” with regular review and observation
Do I have to accept my treatment plan?
No. It is for you to decide. If other options are available we will discuss these with you. We will give you time to consider them before you make your final decision. However, the proposed treatment plan will be what the MDT members think is the most appropriate treatment for you.
Where will I have my treatment?
A member of your MDT will explain this to you, and whether there are any options available.
How do I contact my Macmillan CNS?
We have a Cancer Care telephone line for you to contact your Macmillan CNS. The telephone service is available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am to 4pm.
The Macmillan CNS’s run phone clinics during the week. If appropriate, we will book you on to the next available telephone clinic, which may not be the same day.
Cancer Care line contact number: 01227 868666
What if I need spiritual and pastoral care?
The chaplains are a multi-denominational and multi-faith team. They work as part of the wider healthcare team. They are available for spiritual, emotional, and pastoral support or advice. Chaplains also offer spiritual and pastoral care for those of no faith. They give time and compassionate attention to people to help them work through feelings of distress or anxiety.
For more information, please ask a member of staff for a copy of our Chaplaincy Support leaflet.
How do I make a comment about my visit?
We are committed to improving our services. We do this by listening to patients, their families, and their carers.
We aim to offer a compassionate and efficient service to all our patients and visitors. Feedback helps us to improve our services. It leads to positive experiences for our patients and their relatives or carers.
If you have a concern, please do either of the following.
Speak to the person in charge of the ward or clinic, or your Macmillan CNS. This is often the best way of getting your problem sorted out. They can often do something straightaway, which avoids you becoming more anxious or distressed.
If you would rather ask for help from someone else, the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), will do their best to help you. If they cannot resolve your problem, they will give you clear, friendly advice as to what your next steps should be. You can contact PALS either by telephone on 01227 78 31 45, or email.
What do you think of this leaflet?
We welcome feedback, whether positive or negative, as it helps us to improve our care and services.
If you would like to give us feedback about this leaflet, please fill in our short online survey. Either scan the QR code below, or use the web link. We do not record your personal information, unless you provide contact details and would like to talk to us some more.
If you would rather talk to someone instead of filling in a survey, please call the Patient Voice Team.
Patient Voice Team
Telephone: 01227 868605
Email