What to Expect
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Your Cancer Care Team
Your team will include many different health care providers. You will be seen by a cancer specialist who will discuss your diagnosis in detail, treatment options, and next steps. In most cases, subsequent visits are shorter; your team will review your medication and symptoms. Along with your cancer specialist, you'll visit with a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. Here’s an example of some of the many people you will meet during your appointments.
Surgical Oncologist
If your cancer care includes surgery to remove the cancer, you will meet with a surgical oncologist.
Medical Oncologists
These cancer specialists manage chemotherapy, immunotherapies, and targeted treatments when they are part of your cancer treatment plan.
Radiation Oncologists
Radiation oncologists use intense beams of energy (X-rays) to destroy cancer cells. Targeted and shortened courses of radiation therapy may be used as a standalone treatment or in combination with other therapies in order to shrink tumors before or after surgery. Our radiation oncologists use techniques to minimize radiation exposure to your normal healthy tissues.
Palliative Care Specialists
Our palliative care experts are available to meet the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of you and your loved ones during your cancer treatment. We work with you and your family to navigate the health care system and provide guidance on treatment choices.
Plastic Surgeons
If you are a candidate for reconstruction surgery, our board-certified plastic surgeons will help you understand your options and recommend the best procedure for you.
Oncology Nurse Navigator
A nurse navigator will be your single point of contact during your cancer journey and will guide you through testing, treatment, surgery, and beyond. They can coordinate appointments with your cancer care team, educate you and your family, and help identify and overcome barriers to cancer treatment, whether that's transportation, housing, or financial concerns.
Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants may participate in your cancer care throughout your journey, from your first consultation and helping you manage your symptoms, to when you are ready for long-term follow-up.
Registered Nurses and Certified Medical Assistants
A registered nurse will educate you and your family about your cancer and planned treatments. At each appointment, you will see the same nursing team. This approach gives you a consistent point of contact for questions and concerns that arise outside of the clinic. A certified medical assistant will help guide you through your clinic visit. Both roles are meant to support your clinical needs during each and every visit.
Genetic Counselors
If cancer runs in your family, a genetic counselor can explain and recommend genetic testing to determine your cancer risk. If you have already been diagnosed with breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or colon cancer, knowing whether this cancer is inherited can direct your treatment decisions. It may also affect your loved ones’ health in the future.
Speech Pathologists
Cancer and cancer treatments can damage your ability to speak and swallow, which can significantly affect your quality of life. Our specialized speech-language pathologists offer speech therapy services to help improve your ability to communicate and swallow safely during and long after cancer treatment.
Other Team Members
You may also interact with family therapists, dietitians, psychologists, social workers, and other cancer-specific caregivers who support you during your cancer treatment. You may see a medical resident or fellow pursuing specialty training. They work closely with other members of your health care team. A financial care counselor can answer questions about billing and insurance.