Your medical team

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.

Other health professionals you might see

General practitioner (GP). The GP will help manage your cancer. For example, they may help manage some symptoms, and can refer you for other medical services. They may be your main contact if you are being cared for at home.

Community nursing service. There are different nurses who can provide support and care locally in the community.

• Community or district nurse – provide nursing care in people’s homes, including giving medication and pain control.
• Palliative care nurse – nurses who specialise in managing pain and other symptoms.
• Macmillan nurse – nurses who specialise in an area of cancer care. For example, Macmillan chemotherapy nurses give chemotherapy. Some Macmillan nurses are palliative care nurses – but not all.
• Hospice nurse – provide palliative care and support at a hospice. They may also visit you at home.
• Marie Curie nurse – nurses who provide nursing care in your home, often overnight.

Occupational therapist. A professional who can help find ways to carry out everyday tasks that might be difficult, for example by recommending specific equipment or adaptations at home.

Physiotherapist. A professional who helps people cope with illness and manage symptoms through movement and exercise.

Specialist palliative care team

If you have cancer can’t be cured, you may see a specialist palliative care team or supportive care team. These teams help people to live as well as possible for as long as possible, and help to manage complex symptoms such as pain.

• Hospital palliative care team. A team of professionals at the hospital who can help you manage your symptoms, and help you live as well as possible. The team may include doctors, specialist nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and counsellors.
• Community palliative care team. Similar to the hospital palliative care team, but they may visit you at home or arrange an outpatient appointment to help you manage your symptoms. Some teams are based at hospices.

Other professionals who can support you

• Counsellor. A professional who helps people deal with emotional problems by helping them talk through issues and find solutions. Also called a therapist.
• Social worker. A professional who helps people deal with problems such as living independently, improving their wellbeing or accessing welfare support.
• Clinical psychologist. A professional who treats people with emotional (psychological) problems to reduce their distress and improve their emotional wellbeing.
• Psychiatrist. A doctor who treats people with mental health problems through medicines and recommending other treatments such as counselling.

Updated September 2020

Review date September 2022