Your healthcare team

Health professionals you may see

GP/family doctor

Your GP supports you from cancer diagnosis and treatment to follow-up and survivorship. If you don’t have a regular GP, it’s a good idea to find one.

A GP can: 

• help you understand treatment options and prepare for treatment
• refer you to specialists and allied health professionals such as physiotherapists, dietitians or psychologists
• help arrange a second opinion if you want one
• continue to see you for day-to-day health issues and follow-up care
• get to know you and your medical history, and provide background to the cancer care team.

Cancer specialists

Cancer specialists diagnose cancer and guide your treatment and follow-up care.

They may be a:

• medical oncologist – treats cancer with drug therapies (e.g. chemotherapy)
• surgeon – removes tumours and may perform some biopsies
• radiation oncologist – prescribes and oversees radiation therapy
• haematologist – diagnoses and treats diseases of the bone marrow, blood and lymphatic system.

Cancer specialists can:

• answer your questions about treatment
• work together as part of a multidisciplinary team to plan and deliver treatment
• be supported by junior medical staff (e.g. registrar), if you’re treated in hospital.

Specialist nurses

A specialist nurse coordinates your care from diagnosis through treatment. They work closely with specialists and other health professionals. They may be called a  cancer care coordinator, clinical nurse consultant or clinical nurse specialist. Specialist nurses  are often your main contact for questions and concerns.

They can:

• provide information and support
• coordinate care for specific cancer types (in smaller hospitals, a
  general coordinator or the nursing unit manager may provide this support).

In rural areas, a cancer care coordinator may attend appointments with a visiting oncologist. 

More than one nurse may be involved in your care (e.g. a surgical nurse, breast care nurse or stomal therapy nurse).

Psychologists and social workers

Various health professionals can help manage the emotional and practical impacts of cancer.

You may see a:

• psychologist – helps you manage your feelings about diagnosis and treatment. They can provide  counselling and advocacy at all stages of living with cancer. They may also support your family members and carers
• social worker – provides emotional and practical support, as well as advocacy, during times of  crisis. They help access practical services (e.g. accommodation, transport, financial assistance, home care services). They can connect you with services that best meet your needs.

Physical and occupational therapists

To help with mobility, day-to-day tasks and speech, you may see a:

• physiotherapist – helps you to move and exercise safely to regain strength, fitness and mobility
• exercise physiologist – designs exercise programs to help improve health, fitness, strength and energy levels, especially for people with medical conditions
• occupational therapist – provides equipment, aids and advice about getting back to your daily activities
• speech pathologist – helps with speech or swallowing issues after treatment.

Other health professionals

You may also see a:

• dietitian – helps with nutrition concerns and recommends changes to diet
• radiographer – performs x-rays, mammograms and other scans
• radiation therapist – plans and delivers radiation therapy
• genetic counsellor – gives advice if you have a strong family history of certain cancer types
• pharmacist – dispenses medicines and explains doses and side effects
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professional – supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait  Islander peoples with culturally safe care and advice
• multicultural navigator – supports people from various communities; may be available in some hospitals and cancer centres.

Choosing your specialist

It’s important to feel comfortable with your specialist. Some people are happy to leave the choice  of specialist to their GP, while others want to be involved in this decision. Choosing specialists is not always possible (e.g. in the public health system), but if it is, you may consider:

• Specialties – Some doctors specialise in treating certain cancers.
• Multidisciplinary care – Health professionals who specialise in different parts of your care sometimes work together to plan treatment. This is called a multidisciplinary team (MDT). It may include surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, cancer care coordinators, dietitians, psychologists and social workers.
• Specialist treatment centres – These centres treat many patients,including those with rare cancers.
• Your preferences – You may want to see all your doctors at the one hospital, even if it’s far away, or go to your local hospital for some visits to cut down on travel.