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Who is on my cancer care team?

20 hours ago | Amy Kuth, Patient Educator | @amykuth | Comments (1)

Learn about the many specialists who may be part of your cancer care team and how they work together to support you throughout the cancer journey.

 

When most people think about cancer care, they think of their oncologist or hematologist. But cancer care involves many different people working together. At Mayo Clinic, a team of experts supports patients and families through every stage of care.

This article provides an overview of the many people who may be part of your cancer care team. In future articles, we'll spotlight individual members of the care team and take a deeper dive into what they do and how they help. Some members of the care team, such as patient navigators, dietitians, social workers, and palliative care providers have already been featured in earlier articles on our Cancer Education Blog. We want your help deciding who to feature next.

So, who might be on your cancer care team?

Your treatment team

Your treatment team includes specialists who diagnose and treat cancer. Together, they help plan your treatment, track your progress, and manage your care.

Depending on your diagnosis and treatment plan, this may include:

  • Fertility specialists
  • Geneticists
  • Hematologists
  • Medical dosimetrists
  • Medical oncologists
  • Nurses
  • Nurse practitioners
  • Pathologists
  • Pharmacists
  • Physician assistants
  • Radiation oncologists
  • Radiation oncology medical physicists
  • Radiation therapists
  • Radiologists
  • Surgical oncologists

Emotional and practical support

A cancer diagnosis can affect many parts of life. It can affect your emotions, relationships, work, finances, and daily routines. You don't have to face those challenges alone. Mayo Clinic has a team of people who can help you find resources, manage stress, make tough decisions, and handle practical concerns.

This team may include:

Cancer rehabilitation specialists

Cancer rehabilitation specialists help patients gain function and independence.

This team may include:

  • Occupational therapists
  • Physiatrists
  • Physical therapists
  • Rehabilitation nurses
  • Speech-language pathologists

Your cancer rehabilitation team creates a care plan for you based on your needs. For example, speech-language pathologists help patients who have trouble speaking or swallowing. Physical and occupational therapists help patients improve strength, balance, mobility, and daily functioning.

Symptom management and well-being

Mayo Clinic has specialists that help you feel your best during and after treatment. They support your well-being by helping you manage symptoms, improve nutrition, and address concerns about intimacy and relationships.

Depending on your needs, this team may include:

Education and research partners

Learning about cancer can feel overwhelming. There is often a lot to learn.

Patient educators help patients and families find trusted information. They also provide educational programs to support symptom management, survivorship, and overall well-being.

Some patients may also work with clinical research coordinators. They help explain clinical trials and support patients who choose to participate.

The most important team member

While many people help with your care, there is one team member who matters most: you.

Your goals, values, and experiences help guide decisions about your care. Family members and caregivers also play an important role.

Cancer care is a team effort. Each person brings different skills to help support you.

We want to hear from you: Which member of the cancer care team would you like to learn more about?

Would you be interested in hearing from a patient educator, pharmacist, sexual health specialist, or another member of the team? Share your ideas in the comments. Your suggestions will help shape future articles.

 

Learn more

Find support and resources 

 

Is there a topic you would like to read about on the Cancer Center Blog? Let us know in the comments or email our team at canceredcenter@mayo.edu.

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Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | 20 hours ago

Thank you for putting this in a concise post, with several links to different people who can help guide us along!
Ginger

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