After you have seen your GP, you may have some tests and scans at the hospital to help the doctors make a diagnosis.
Usually, if you have been diagnosed with cancer, a team of health professionals will work together to plan the treatment they feel is best for you. This team is called a multidisciplinary team (MDT).
The colorectal MDT is held once a week locally on a Thursday morning.
The MDT team consists of:
- Surgeon – a doctor who specialises in a specific cancer type and does operations.
- Medical oncologist – a doctor who specialises in treating cancer with chemotherapy and other cancer drugs.
- Clinical oncologist – a doctor who specialises in treating cancer with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other cancer drugs.
- Pathologist – a doctor who studies cells and body tissues.
- Clinical nurse specialist – an expert nurse who specialises in a particular area of health, such as cancer or a specific cancer type.
- Radiologist – a specialist in x-rays and scans.
You may also be seen by other health or social care professionals, such as a physiotherapist, dietitian, occupational therapist (OT), radiographer, doctor or nurse who specialises in symptom control, or a counsellor or psychologist.
Even after you have been diagnosed, you may need more tests to find out more about the cancer.
The MDT will meet together to discuss the results of these tests and plan your treatment. They will consider a number of things, including:
- the type and size of the cancer and whether it has spread
- your general health
- national treatment guidelines for your type of cancer.
Following the MDT the colorectal team will allocate an appointment for you to come and discuss the results with one of the colorectal team, usually a consultant.
As the MDT falls on a Thursday it is normal that the appointment will be allocated for the following week.
