Don’t be surprised by how many different healthcare professionals you interact with during your diagnosis, treatment, and recovery from cancer. Cancer treatment can be complicated, and each member of your healthcare team provides a different type of expertise. It is important that you understand their roles to make the best use of their special skills.
Your medical oncologist often becomes the focal point of your medical team. This doctor will review your medical history and may have you undergo more testing. Results from these tests—lab work, physical examination, and scans—will help to determine your specific diagnosis and its stage. The cancer stage often takes into account the size of a tumor, how deeply it has penetrated, whether it has invaded adjacent organs, how many lymph nodes it has metastasized (spread) to (if any), and whether it has spread to distant organs. Staging of cancer is important because the stage at diagnosis is the most powerful predictor of survival, and treatments are often changed based on the stage.
Next, your oncologist will establish an initial treatment plan. You will meet with your oncologist at specific periods throughout your treatment and continue with follow-up visits after your initial course of treatment is complete.
Your medical oncologist will also be the one to prescribe chemotherapy or other drug therapies and will make decisions about your individual treatment plan. Your oncologist may also refer you to a radiation oncologist or a surgeon if he or she feels that these treatment modalities should be part of your treatment plan.
Surgery is often an integral part of cancer treatment. If you are having surgery, it will be highly individualized, depending on the type and extent of your cancer. You will often be referred to your surgeon by your primary physician, another specialist, or your medical oncologist. You should feel confident in your choice of surgeon. For some types of cancer, surgeons who specialize in the type of surgery that you are to undergo (surgical oncologists) or the type of cancer you have may provide better outcomes compared with general surgeons.
You will have an initial visit before the surgery so that your surgeon can review your medical records, speak with you, and/or perform additional tests or a physical examination. This is the time to ask questions about your upcoming surgery.
Radiation oncologists are physicians who specialize in treating cancer with radiation therapy. This doctor will determine the precise dose and placement of radiation you are to receive as part of your treatment. If your only type of treatment is radiation therapy, then your radiation oncologist may be the main physician you have contact with throughout your treatment and follow-up.
During your first meeting with your radiation oncologist, you will discuss your diagnosis and treatment plan. You will want to come prepared with questions about what to expect during the course of radiation therapy. You will also most likely undergo scans during the course of therapy to determine how well you are responding to treatment. The physician will often interpret your scans to help determine your response to the radiation. If this doctor is your primary physician during treatment, you can discuss these results during your appointment.
An anesthesiologist is a doctor who specializes in giving drugs or other agents to prevent or relieve pain during surgery or other procedures being done in the hospital. Your anesthesiologist will be available to consult with you about pain management during and even after your surgery.
An oncology nurse navigator is a medical professional who helps patients and their families access and navigate the healthcare system. This professional helps remove barriers to cancer care so that you and your caregivers can receive the treatment and support services that you need in a timely manner. Navigation services may include help with insurance and other financial issues, transportation to appointments, communication, coordination of care among different healthcare providers and facilities, and foreign language translation or interpretation services.
Your cancer center may employ physician assistants to provide some aspects of your medical care. A physician assistant is a trained healthcare professional who works closely with physicians and nurses. Physician assistants are supervised by your doctor and often perform physical exams, prescribe medications or tests, and analyze test results. In addition, these professionals may carry out certain medical procedures and even assist in surgery. Your physician assistant may be your main source of patient education and also may be your contact regarding hospital discharge and follow-up care.
Dietitians and nutritionists provide nutritional services. They assess patients' nutritional needs, develop and implement nutrition programs, and evaluate the results. These medical professionals also work with doctors and other healthcare providers to help manage medical and nutritional needs. Optimal nutrition can promote healing, increase energy, and improve overall health.
Often, cancer patients have special nutritional needs. Cancer patients may not have much appetite as a result of chemotherapy or other treatments. A dietitian or nutritionist can help make recommendations for recipes or foods that are appealing and nutritious. It is important for cancer patients to have adequate nourishment during therapy so that they have the strength to manage their treatment.
Oncology social workers, specialists within the social work field, are clinically trained to provide diversified support for cancer patients and their families during diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. They are also trained in end-of-life care and bereavement. An oncology social worker can help with a wide range of issues, including accessing accurate information about the diagnosis and treatments; educating patients about the language, paperwork, and procedures of the healthcare system, and informing patients of their rights; referring patients and their families to community resources for assistance with financial concerns, transportation issues, lodging during treatment, and support groups; acting as a liaison between patients and their medical team; assisting patients in preparing an advance directive, a living will, and a medical durable power of attorney; and assisting patients and their families with end-of-life care and bereavement if it becomes necessary.
Rehabilitation specialists are healthcare professionals who help people recover from an illness or injury and return to activities of daily life. Examples of rehabilitation specialists are physical therapists and occupational therapists. Physical therapists teach exercises and physical activities that help condition muscles and restore strength and movement. This can help manage problems such as pain and fatigue and also improve a patient’s physical functioning. Occupational therapists focus on helping patients manage their daily activities (such as dressing, bathing, and eating). This can help restore a patient’s ability to function independently and improve quality of life.
Support from others can help you manage the physical, emotional, and practical challenges of cancer and cancer treatment.
Often, oncology nurses work closely with the medical oncologist to triage your care and administer chemotherapy or other drugs you require for treatment. These medical professionals can be a great source of information and are comfortable speaking with patients about both physical and emotional issues. You can ask your nurse questions regarding the best way to manage side effects, and you should also let your nurse know about any concerns or wishes you have regarding your treatment. Most likely, if you are receiving any type of drug therapy, you will interact more with the oncology nurses than with your medical oncologist, so take advantage of the time that you have with your nurse. Oncology nurses will provide education and counseling to you and your family members as you journey through cancer treatment. Part of their role is to let your medical oncologist know about any problems you may be experiencing that need attention. For this reason, communicating openly and honestly with your oncology nurse is very important.
Regardless of if your surgery requires you to stay in the hospital for a while or if you have outpatient surgery and go home the same day, your nurse will report your condition to your surgeon. So be sure to tell your nurse about any side effects you are experiencing, ask questions about pain management, and describe any other concerns you may have.
Friends and family members can play a very important role in your care. Depending on the circumstances, friends and family members may be able to assist you with day-to-day activities such as doctor visits and meal preparation and may also provide important emotional and spiritual support. Don’t be afraid to accept help when it is offered and to ask for help when you need it.
The primary caregiver is the friend or family member who works most closely with you as you go through your illness. Your primary caregiver can act as your advocate during treatment and help keep track of care instructions and medication schedules. Your primary caregiver may be able to assist with some types of physical care and may also help manage insurance and financial issues.
You should always bring your primary caregiver with you to your appointments with your medical team because your primary caregiver can help you to remember important instructions. Often, cancer patients report feeling overwhelmed with all of the new information they receive. Your primary caregiver is an extremely important member of your team and can help you to make decisions critical to your treatments.
Cancer is an all-too-common disease, and it’s important for you to realize that you’re not alone as you go through diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. In addition to turning to healthcare professionals, friends, and family for support, you may also find it helpful to talk with other people with cancer and survivors. Cancer support groups can help people share advice and experience and cope with the many feelings that accompany cancer. Groups may meet in person or online. Your doctor, nurse, or social worker may be able to help you find a group that’s right for you. Your cancer center’s website may also list local community support groups that are available.
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