Before, during and after treatment, you will see a range of health professionals who specialise in different aspects of your care.
Learn more about:
Overview
The main specialist doctor you will see when having chemotherapy is a medical oncologist (for tumours, also called solid cancers) or a haematologist (for blood cancers). You may be referred to a medical oncologist or a haematologist by your general practitioner (GP) or by another specialist such as a surgeon.
Treatment options will often be discussed with other health professionals at what is known as a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting.
It is also a good idea to build a relationship with a GP because they will be part of your care, particularly after your cancer treatment ends.
To find cancer specialists, multidisciplinary teams and hospitals in NSW or ACT, you can visit the NSW Government website CanRefer.
Health professionals you may see
| GP | helps you with treatment decisions and works in partnership with your specialists in providing ongoing care | ||
| medical oncologist or haematologist | treats cancer with drug therapies such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy (systemic treatment) | ||
| radiation oncologist | treats cancer by prescribing and overseeing a course of radiation therapy | ||
| surgeon | surgically removes tumours and performs some biopsies; specialist cancer surgeons are called surgical oncologists | ||
| cancer care coordinator | coordinates your care, liaises with other members of the MDT, and supports you and your family throughout treatment; may also be a clinical nurse consultant (CNC) or clinical nurse specialist (CNS) | ||
| nurse or nurse practitioner | administers medicines and drug therapies, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy, and provides care, information and support throughout your treatment; a nurse practitioner works in an advanced nursing role and may prescribe some medicines and tests | ||
| palliative care specialist and nurses | work closely with the 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 | ||
| social worker | links you to support services and helps you with emotional, practical and financial issues | ||
| pharmacist | dispenses medicines and gives advice about dosage and side effects | ||
| psychologist, counsellor | help you manage your emotional response to diagnosis and treatment |
→ READ MORE: Having chemotherapy
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Prof Desmond Yip, Senior Staff Specialist, Department of Medical Oncology, The Canberra Hospital, ANU School of Medicine and Psychology, ANU College of Health & Medicine, The Australian National University, ACT; Gillian Blanchard, Nurse Practitioner, Calvary Mater, Newcastle, NSW; Ken Colbert, Consumer; Laura Collins, Clinical Dietitian, GenesisCare, WA; Karen Gray, Consumer; Kate Lucking, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Louise Moodie, Director of Dietetics, Mackay Hospital and Health Service, QLD; Dr Shivanshan Pathmanathan, Medical Oncologist, Townsville Cancer Centre, Townsville University Hospital, QLD; Dr Marissa Ryan, Acting Consultant Pharmacist (Cancer), Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD; Jayne Watson, Clinic Nurse Consultant, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC; Stephanie Webster, Consumer.
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