Anyone diagnosed with pancreatic cancer should have their case reviewed at a specialist cancer centre where there is a specialist pancreatic cancer team. This is called the multidisciplinary team (MDT).
The multidisciplinary team (MDT)
The multidisciplinary team (MDT) is the team of health professionals responsible for your treatment and care. They will agree on the best treatment and care for you. Your doctor or nurse should tell you what the MDT have decided.
The health professionals most likely to be involved are listed here.
- Specialist nurse (also called a clinical nurse specialist or CNS) – a nurse who provides expert care and advice about a condition, such as pancreatic cancer.
- Oncologist – a doctor who is an expert in treating cancer with treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
- Surgeon – a doctor who carries out surgery.
- Gastroenterologist – a doctor who treats diseases of the digestive system, including the pancreas.
- Dietitian – a professional who provides expert advice about diet and nutrition, including managing the symptoms of pancreatic cancer related to diet.
- Radiologist – a doctor who uses x-rays to diagnose and treat disease.
You may not meet all of the MDT, and you won’t need to be present at the MDT meetings. You may also see other health professionals at different stages.