Updated on: Nov 18, 2024
Health Care Team Members
Your healthcare team will work together to give you:
- Healthcare information
- Education about your health, care and treatments
- Support and help finding more support as needed
- Care before, during and after your treatment
Some members of the healthcare team are specialty services (e.g. Registered Dietitians, Registered Social Workers, Speech Language Pathologists). This means that your Oncologist or Oncology Nurse can refer you to see them.
| STAGE IN THE CANCER CONTINUUM | TEAM MEMBER | ROLE |
| PREVENTION/SCREENING | Family Doctor | A doctor who has special training in general health conditions. They are trained to prevent, diagnose and treat a number of different diseases or illnesses for the general public. |
| Nurse Practitioner | A registered nurse (RN) who has had extra education and training. This allows them to order certain tests, treat medical conditions and perform medical acts without direct orders from a doctor. | |
| DIAGNOSIS | Family Doctor | Your family doctor might have ordered some testing for you. They will tell you about the results of these tests, and this might include a diagnosis of cancer. |
| Surgical Oncologist | A cancer doctor who specializes in treating cancer through surgery or surgical methods. | |
| TREATMENT | Medical Oncologist | A cancer doctor who specializes in treating cancer with the use of medication (chemotherapy, immunotherapy etc.) |
| Radiation Oncologist | A cancer doctor who specializes in treating cancer using radiation therapy. | |
| Surgical Oncologist | A cancer doctor who specializes in treating cancer through surgery or surgical methods. | |
| General Practitioner of Oncology | A doctor that works closely with Oncologists and the health care team to care for you. | |
| Palliative Care Doctor | A doctor who helps to prevent and relieve the suffering of people with complex, serious or terminal illness. They aim to support quality of life. | |
| Oncology Nurse | A nurse who has special training in caring for people with cancer. They work in clinics, chemotherapy suites and on inpatient oncology units. | |
| TREATMENT, RECOVERY & SURVIVORSHIP | Pharmacist | - Teaches you about your cancer drugs/medicines - Offers help finding ways to pay for cancer drugs - Prepares your prescription drugs |
| Registered Dietitian (RD) | - Helps you with eating and nutrition through treatment - Uses nutrition to manage side effects - Supports you with recovery from treatment | |
| Registered Social Worker (RSW) | - Provides support and counselling to you throughout your cancer experience - Helps to connect you with community resources | |
| Radiation Therapist (RT) | - Helps to plan and deliver your radiation treatments | |
| Spiritual Care Practitioner | - Supports your spiritual health and well-being. | |
| Palliative Care Nurse | A nurse that has special training in palliative care, focused on relieving pain and symptoms and improving your quality of life. | |
| Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) | - Help you manage swallowing problems - Guide you in how to modify foods for safe swallowing - Provide support when speech or swallowing skills become impaired |