Download Interdisciplinary Teams in Cancer Care

Interdisciplinary Teams in
Cancer Care
Myth of the Lone Warrior Hero
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Team Work in Cancer Care
vs Primary Care

Cancer Center
 Sick, with a diagnosis

Primary Care
 Well, preventive care
 Chronic illnesses
 Focus on acute treatment
 Focus on long term management
 Long term follow-up?
 Long term follow-up?
Cancer Diagnoses Requiring
Team Care
Lung cancer
 Colorectal cancer
 Pancreatic cancer
 Breast cancer
 Prostate cancer

Head and Neck Cancers
 Sarcomas
 Others

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Example – Thoracic Oncology
Clinic at UMass
Thoracic surgery
 Radiation oncology
 Medical oncology
 Palliative care
 Clinical psychology
 Cancer research office
 Tumor board


Nurse navigator
Example – N.C.
66 year old presented to Rheumatology with
joint pain. Clubbing identified. CXR showed
R lung mass. N2 disease on bronch.
 Refer to Thoracic Oncology Clinic

 Seen by med onc, rad onc, thoracic surgery
 Seen by palliative care, clinical psychology
 Case reviewed in tumor board
 Plan of care provided on first visit
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Myth of the Lone Warrior Hero Debunked – Hercules Had Help!
Team Work in Cancer Care Summary
Mandatory for many cancers
 More efficient for patients
 Permits comprehensive review of case
 Provides a variety of service


But…has someone been forgotten?
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Where Does Primary Care
Come In?
“Of course we’ll keep you informed”
 “We make sure the patient follows up
with you after his treatment is over”


“Most PCPs don’t want to deal with this
stuff”
How Should Primary Care and
Cancer Care be Coordinated?
Regular appointments with PCP during
cancer treatment?
 Should PCP be primarily responsible for
follow-up?
 How to manage communications
between PCP and cancer team?

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