MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

• A team approach to managing complex medical conditions such as breast cancer

• Involves various experts – both doctors and non-doctors – to ensure optimal treatment

 

I HAVE BREAST CANCER. ISN'T MY BREAST CANCER SURGEON ENOUGH?

• No no and no!

• Your best treatment frequently involves more than just surgery

• Even IF surgery is all that is required in your case, there is still a team of professionals you may or may not meet who are involved in your care and who should “rubber stamp” the recommendation for no further treatment

• History and evidence show us outcomes for breast cancer patients are enhanced through skilled multidisciplinary care

 

IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM ALWAYS INVOLVED IN BREAST CANCER CARE?

• International best practice guidelines suggest this should be the case for all women with breast cancer

• Some surgeons still operate outside a formalised multidisciplinary process

• At Melbourne Breast and Endocrine Surgeons, all cancer patients are formally discussed at a multidisciplinary team meeting (MDM) one or more times

 

WHO IS IN THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM?

• This may vary between treating centres and for differing patients, but core members include: breast surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and breast care nurses