Outlined below are the healthcare professionals who are most likely to work together as a multidisciplinary team to treat you.
| general practitioner (GP) | assists you with treatment decisions and works in partnership with your specialist in providing ongoing care |
| medical oncologist | treats cancer with drug therapies such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and hormone therapy (systemic treatment) |
| radiation oncologist | treats cancer by prescribing and overseeing a course of radiation therapy |
| radiation therapist | plans and delivers radiation therapy |
| surgeon | surgically removes tumours and performs some biopsies; specialist cancer surgeons are called surgical oncologists |
| haematologist | diagnoses and treats diseases of the bone marrow, blood and lymphatic system; prescribes chemotherapy and other drug therapies |
| nurses | administer drugs and provide care, information and support throughout treatment; may be a community nurse (see below), specialist palliative care nurse or a palliative care nurse practitioner |
| community nurse | visits you at home to supervise medical care, assesses your needs for supportive care, and liaises with your GP and MDT as required |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners | provide cultural and other support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with cancer and their families |
| pharmacist | dispenses medicines and gives advice about dosage and side effects |
| cancer care coordinator | coordinates your care, liaises with other members of the MDT and supports you and your family throughout treatment; care may also be coordinated by a clinical nurse consultant (CNC) or clinical nurse specialist (CNS) |
| palliative care specialists and nurses | work closely with your GP and cancer team to help control symptoms and maintain quality of life |
| dietitian | helps with nutrition concerns and recommends changes to diet during treatment and recovery |
| pharmacist | dispenses medicines and gives advice about dosage and side effects |
| physiotherapist and exercise physiologist | help restore movement and mobility, and improve fitness and wellbeing |
| occupational therapist | assists in adapting your living and working environment to help you resume usual activities during and after treatment |
| social worker | links you to support services and helps you with emotional, practical and financial issues |
| speech pathologist | helps with communication and swallowing during and after treatment |
| counsellor, psychiatrist, psychologist | help you manage your emotional response to diagnosis and treatment |
| spiritual care practitioner (pastoral carer or chaplain) | discusses any spiritual matters and helps you reflect on your life and search for meaning, if appropriate; may arrange prayer services and other religious rituals |
To find cancer specialists, multidisciplinary teams and hospitals in NSW or ACT, you can visit the NSW Government website CanRefer.
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Dr Lucy Gately, Medical Oncologist, Alfred Health and Walter and Eliza Institute for Medical Research, VIC; Dr Katherine Allsopp, Supportive and Palliative Care Specialist, Westmead Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Megan Best, The University of Notre Dame Australia and The University of Sydney, NSW; Dr Keiron Bradley, Palliative Care Consultant, Medical Director Palliative Care Program, Bethesda Health Care, WA; Craig Brewer, Consumer; Emeritus Professor Phyllis Butow, Psychologist, The University of Sydney and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Louise Durham, Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Outpatients, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Palliative Care, QLD; Dr Roya Merie, Radiation Oncologist, ICON Cancer Centre, Concord, NSW; Penny Neller, Project Coordinator, National Palliative Care Projects, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology, QLD; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Xanthe Sansome, Program Director, Advance Care Planning Australia, VIC; Sparke Helmore Lawyers; Peter Spolc, Consumer.
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