A team of health professionals will work with you to plan the treatment that is best for you.
MDT (multidisciplinary team) for cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support
Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist
A Cance Nurse Specialist (CNS) who specialises in the type of cancer you have is usually your main contact at the hospital. They are called your key worker.
They will give you information about:
- the type of cancer you have
- your treatment options
- possible side effects
They usually co-ordinate your care. They can also give you and your family practical and emotional support and refer you to other services that can help.
You are usually referred to a CNS when you have just been diagnosed with cancer. They will give you a telephone number so you can contact them. There is usually more than one CNS in each team so you may meet or speak to more than one CNS involved in your care.
Patient Navigator
The Patient Navigators will help guide each person with suspected cancer through their health service journey from referral to diagnosis or discharge. They are part of the multidisciplinary team supporting individual patients and ensuring joined-up care.
Navigators assist patients and their advocates, GPs or carers by answering questions, helping with appointment bookings and accessing local support services.
Cancer Support Worker
The Cancer Support Worker (CSW) is a your consistent point of contact, they will listen to your worries and offer help and support to resolve any concerns. The CSW role is patient focused at every stage of the patient’s cancer journey. From the patient's initial diagnosis to having treatment and ongoing follow-up care, the CSW is able to support patients in navigating the health and social care system.
CSWs help people to take control of their own care by providing emotional and day-to-day support. This could be signposting to services, including those in the community or arranging appointments. They are there to ease the patients’ access to services and help them to make choices that are best for their life.