Why We Use Multidisciplinary Cancer Teams
-
Hematologist-oncologists collaborate to offer comprehensive care
By Iberia Romina Sosa, MD, PhD
As a hematologist-oncologist, I specialize in treating blood disorders and cancer. But I never treat these diseases by myself. At cancer centers like Fox Chase Cancer Center, our patients have teams of experts from different specialties to care for them. We call this multidisciplinary care. It's been a cornerstone of high-quality, comprehensive cancer center care for many years, and we know it improves outcomes.
In this blog, I'd like to share what I wish everyone knew about the way many different specialists work hand in hand to make cancer care better for you.
How team-based cancer care benefits patients
My role as a hematology-oncology specialist goes beyond prescribing chemotherapy or managing blood disorders. Here's why: Complex cancer care management often involves more than one type of treatment. That's why multidisciplinary teams are essential in helping us come up with the best plan of care.
Each day, I work with surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, nurses, pathologists, researchers, and many other specialists. Our team approach lets us approach your care together. We discuss treatment options and how each one fits safely and effectively into your care plan. This collaboration improves communication, which reduces gaps in care. It also keeps you heard, informed, and supported throughout your cancer journey.
Team-based cancer care also helps start your treatment sooner. The reason? There is effective coordination among all the specialists involved in your care. And coordinated cancer care often makes visits more convenient because you can coordinate multiple providers in a single day.
How our team works together for you
Working as a team, we focus on many key aspects of your care, including:
Personalizing your cancer treatment. Collaboration lets us personalize your treatment much more effectively than any single specialist could do alone. In our regular tumor board review meetings, experts from different disciplines assess your diagnosis and case information together. These diverse viewpoints help us create a personalized cancer treatment plan that fits your unique needs. We keep in touch as a team and can adjust your treatment plan as needed.
Managing treatment complications. In my practice, medical oncologist and hematologist collaboration is especially important when managing blood-related complications of cancer or its treatments. For instance, chemotherapy targets fast-growing cells — not only cancer cells, but cells in the bone marrow. As a result, the treatment can lower white blood cell counts, increasing the risk of infections. Chemotherapy can also affect platelets and red blood cells. This raises the risk of bleeding, especially with surgery and interventional procedures — and of anemia, which can cause fatigue and cardiovascular complications.
I monitor these changes closely and work with the care team to adjust treatment, provide supportive therapies, and help patients stay on track safely with their treatments as much as possible.
Connecting you to clinical trials, when appropriate. In my practice, I collaborate with researchers at Fox Chase to help identify patients who may be eligible for clinical trials. These trials give our patients access to promising treatments that often aren't available elsewhere.
Supporting you beyond your cancer care. Our multidisciplinary team works together to meet all your needs, not just treat your cancer. For instance, we can connect you to resources such as nutrition guidance, mental health support, and social work services to help improve your quality of life and overcome everyday challenges during your cancer journey.
Experience the team-based care you deserve
At Fox Chase, you have access to multidisciplinary cancer care, innovative treatments, and all the support you need during your cancer journey.
To schedule a consultation with a member of our hematology-oncology team, call 888-369-2427. You also can request an appointment online.
Helpful Resources
Looking for more information?