KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• A cancer care team is a group of specialists working together for one patient. Your core clinical team typically includes a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist and a surgeon, with one physician leading your treatment plan.
• Your nurse navigator is a go-to source of guidance from diagnosis through survivorship. One navigator follows you throughout your journey, coordinates care, connects you to resources and is the person to contact if you’re unsure of next steps.
• Your team works closely behind the scenes through weekly meetings, where specialists review cases together to confirm an evidence-based plan, and through a shared electronic health record that lets providers message one another and view each other’s notes in real time.
• You play an active role on your own team. Bring a companion to appointments, write down questions ahead of time, speak up early about symptoms and use MyChart for non-urgent questions to stay informed and confident in your care.
SUMMARY:
This article explains who makes up a cancer care team and what each member does, helping newly diagnosed patients and their caregivers feel confident and acquainted with their team. Learn about the oncology care team, from the lead physician and oncology specialists to additional support roles who guide care from diagnosis through survivorship. It also covers how the team coordinates behind the scenes through meetings and shared records. Plus, it provides practical tips patients can use to take an active role in their own care.
A cancer diagnosis can turn your world upside down in a single conversation. You’re introduced to a long list of new faces, unfamiliar titles and a schedule full of appointments. It’s a lot to take in, and feeling overwhelmed is completely normal.
Here’s something reassuring to hold onto: you are not walking this path alone. Behind every cancer diagnosis stands a whole team of people whose job is to care for you, provide guidance and answer your questions. Understanding their role in your care can take some of the fear out of the unknown.
Directors of oncology at OhioHealth, Lisa Ahonen and Pauline Russ, introduce us to who might be on your cancer care team and how they work together to give you the best possible care.
Your core care team
At the center of your oncology care team is the physician, working in coordination with your primary care specialist and other multidisciplinary team members, who guides your treatment. Ahonen says to think of your lead physician or surgeon as the quarterback of the group.
Depending on your diagnosis, that leader may be one of several specialists:
- Medical oncologist: Manages your overall treatment plan and therapies like chemotherapy.
- Radiation oncologist: Oversees radiation therapy when it’s part of your care.
- Surgeon: Performs procedures to remove tumors or affected tissue.
Different specialists may take the lead at different points in your journey.
The role of the nurse navigator
If there’s one person to remember, it’s your nurse navigator. This is your go-to guide and steady companion from diagnosis through recovery.
“Our goal with nurse navigators is to connect with the patient at their earliest point of diagnosis,” says Ahonen. “What we found is that if we can get involved at that point, we can really help the patient.”
Nurse navigators try to connect with you at the time of diagnosis, sometimes right in the imaging center. “For example, in our breast cancer program, we have nurse navigators in the diagnostic imaging center involved in coordinating care for the patient,” Ahonen notes. From there, that one familiar face stays with you. One nurse navigator follows a patient throughout their journey, all the way to recovery and into survivorship.
A new diagnosis can feel confusing with so many specialists to keep track of. “Having that navigator can really help the patient by creating smooth transitions,” Ahonen says.
Importantly, your nurse navigator is the person to call when next steps are unclear. Russ reassures, “If you don’t know who to call, that’s your go-to person. Call the navigator.” They can also connect you to lesser-known resources, from financial assistance to wigs and cold cap therapy.
The support team members who round out your care
Beyond your primary oncology physician and nurse navigator, an oncology care team includes many specialists who support your whole well-being. “We have our nurse navigators, our pharmacist, our oncology social workers, dietitians, financial counselors,” Ahonen explains.
Here’s how some of these team members help:
- Genetic counselors help you understand how your personal and family history can impact your cancer risk and treatment options, and how best to mitigate that risk.
- Oncology dietitians help you maintain a healthy diet, weight and exercise routine to improve outcomes.
- Oncology pharmacists work directly in your care areas, helping to provide individualized, high-quality medication recommendations and care.
- Social workers and financial counselors help you find community resources, transportation and funding.
- Physical therapists and integrative care specialists support your long-term health and comfort.
Other roles that might play a part on your care team include radiologists and pathologists who support the diagnosis process. Plastic surgeons and reconstructive surgeons can also be part of your care team, helping restore what cancer takes away.
What happens behind the scenes
Some of the most important teamwork happens when you’re not in the room. Your specialists talk to each other constantly to keep your care on track.
One key example is a weekly meeting where cancer care team physicians review cases together. “The meeting is a place where all of the clinical folks come together and bounce around ideas, ask questions and confirm with other physicians and specialists that their established plan for your care is the right one,” says Russ.
The goal of the tumor board meeting is simple: to come up with a treatment plan that’s evidence-based, appropriately panned and aligned within all the specialties.
Your team also stays connected through a shared electronic health record. Care providers can message each other and review notes in real time.
Practical tips to feel confident in your cancer journey
You play an important role on your own team, too. A cancer diagnosis can leave you feeling like you’ve lost control, but staying involved helps you stay empowered. “The more educated and knowledgeable you become, the more you can own your own care,” Russ says.
Here are a few simple ways to feel more prepared and confident with every appointment:
- Bring a companion. Have someone — a friend or family member — join you at appointments. “It’s always good to have somebody else hear what maybe you’re not capturing,” Ahonen says.
- Write down your questions ahead of time. Prior to your appointments, gather your thoughts and write them down to refer to when you meet with your care team. Lean on a family member or your navigator to help prepare when needed.
- Speak up early. “If you are having symptoms, share them with your physician. Don’t wait,” Ahonen advises.
- Use MyChart for non-urgent questions. This way, your provider’s written response also stays in your chart for future reference.
Most of all, Ahonen wants you to remember this: “You don’t have to do it alone. You have a team and can rely on your team.”
OhioHealth’s trusted experts are here for you
A cancer diagnosis is life-changing, but you have an entire team ready to support you at every step. From your medical oncologist to your nurse navigator to the specialists working behind the scenes, each person is committed to caring for you close to home.
Explore OhioHealth cancer care resources to learn more.
Frequently asked questions
Who is on a cancer care team?
A cancer care team is a group of specialists working together to care for you. Your core clinical team likely includes a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist and a surgeon, with one lead physician guiding your treatment plan. It also includes nurse navigators, dietitians, pharmacists and social workers who support your whole well-being.
What does a nurse navigator do?
A nurse navigator guides you from diagnosis through survivorship, coordinating your care and connecting you to resources along the way. If you ever aren’t sure who to call with a question or concern, the nurse navigator is the right person to contact for guidance.
What is a medical oncologist?
A medical oncologist manages your treatment plan and therapies like chemotherapy, often acting as the lead physician on your care team. Depending on your diagnosis, a radiation oncologist or surgeon may take the lead at different points in your journey.
How do cancer care teams coordinate all the elements of your care?
Coordination happens through shared electronic health records and regular behind-the-scenes meetings where surgeons, oncologists and other specialists review your case together. The goal is to develop an evidence-based treatment plan agreed upon across all specialties. This keeps your whole team aligned and your care seamless.
How can I be an active part of my cancer care team?
Bring a companion to appointments, write down your questions ahead of time and speak up early about any concerning symptoms. If you have non-urgent questions, use MyChart. These simple steps help you stay informed and in control of your care.
