Your cancer care team: Get to know the providers on your side

There’s a lot to think about after you’re diagnosed with cancer. But you don’t have to go through it on your own. Your family and friends will be there to support you. And your cancer care team has your back.

What exactly is a cancer care team? It’s a group of professionals who work together to treat your cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Members include your oncologist — a medical doctor who specializes in treating cancer — as well as a nurse, a social worker, a psychologist, and many others.

Here’s what you need to know about the team approach to treating cancer, as well as who the key players are.

Benefits of having a cancer care team

Cancer care teams (sometimes called multidisciplinary teams, or MDTs) are the gold standard in cancer treatment. A recent study found that people with head and neck cancer who worked with a care team had fewer side effects and better quality of life than those who didn’t work with a care team.

Your primary care provider (PCP) and your oncologist will help you assemble the best team for you, says oncologist Zeina Nahleh, M.D. “After a cancer diagnosis, you’ll need a lot of care from many different professionals,” she says. “But you’ll still need to keep up with your basic medical care. So it’s important for your PCP to stay in the loop too.” They’ll care for all the ordinary things that may pop up, such as infections, diabetes management, and blood pressure control.

Your first step: Choose your cancer doctor and hospital. Your PCP may have recommendations, and so might your family and friends. Dr. Nahleh says it may be a good idea to use a comprehensive care center. Or, if you live in a small town, choose a clinic that’s connected with a larger facility.

These kinds of centers are often approved by cancer organizations like the National Cancer Institute, says Dr. Nahleh. “Plus, they follow the best, most up-to-date standards.” Best of all: Each of your providers will be in one place. You’ll have lots of appointments, so using a cancer center can make your life easier.

If you go to a big center, they’ll put a team together for you. If not, you may need to assemble it with the help of your primary care provider and oncologist.

Key members of your cancer care team

Who do you need on your team? That depends on the type of cancer you have and what your treatment plan is. You’ll have an oncologist, plus a variety of other medical specialists. Here are just some of the key players.

Oncologist. This doctor is your team captain. They’ll work closely with you — and with all the other providers who will take care of you. They’ll be in charge of your care from the moment you’re diagnosed until the time you finish your treatment.

Oncology nurse. An oncology nurse specializes in cancer care. You’ll probably see nurses more often than any other team members. Oncology nurses might:

• Do your physical exams
• Give you chemotherapy or other medications
• Teach you about your treatment and tell you what to expect
• Answer your questions
• Watch for side effects

You might work with an advanced provider, such as an oncology nurse practitioner or oncology physician assistant.

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Patient navigator. This professional helps guide you through treatment and gets you the services you need. Navigators can be laypeople with special training and experience or they might be health care professionals, such as nurses or social workers, according to the American Cancer Society. They’ll help you:

• Find a mental health provider
• Make appointments
• Seek financial help
• Arrange transportation to your appointments

Registered dietician. During cancer treatments, you’ll need to stay as strong and healthy as you can. So eating right is more important than ever. But that can be tough, especially if you have side effects. A registered dietician can:

• Help you plan easy, healthy meals
• Suggest foods to eat when you’re feeling sick
• Help you eat well even if you’ve lost your appetite or have mouth sores

Radiation team. If you receive radiation treatment for your cancer, these specialists will be taking care of you:

• Radiation oncologist: This is a medical doctor who specializes in using radiation to treat cancer.
• Radiation technician: This specialist will help you get into the right position to receive radiation, and then give you the dose that your doctor ordered.

Oncology social worker. A social worker may provide some of the same services as a patient navigator—the job may have different names in different places. But a social worker is also trained to provide mental health counseling to help you deal with the emotional problems that can happen with cancer. A social worker might also lead support groups, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Mental health provider. Mental health professionals can help you deal with feelings of sadness, anger, or anxiety. Those are common if you have cancer, according to ASCO. Your nurse or your patient navigator might connect you with a psychologist, psychiatrist, clinical social worker, or licensed counselor.

Mental health care should start from day one and continue even after treatment, Dr. Nahleh says. It can help you:

• Cope with your diagnosis
• Feel more in control of your life
• Manage anxiety and depression
• Deal with worries about the future

Bottom line: Your cancer care team will work together to help ensure you get the best treatment possible. Your team is there to help you every step of the way. So don’t hesitate to ask questions or let team members know if are experiencing side effects, or if you just need a friendly ear.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.