What is a cancer MDT?
MDT stands for ‘multi-disciplinary team’, and the cancer MDT refers to a committee that is made up of a range of health professionals.
The committee involves a range of doctors, including surgeons, oncologists (cancer specialists), pathologists (who examine body tissues) and radiologists (experts in doing and reporting X-rays and scans). Others may include nurses and psychologists (experts in mental states and behaviour). The whole team advise on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
There is a separate MDT in NHS hospitals for each cancer type (e.g. breast cancer MDT, lung cancer MDT) and the committees meet regularly, usually once a week, to discuss patients with cancer and agree on best treatment plan for them.
You’ll usually see your consultant or nurse in clinic after the cancer MDT, in order to discuss the treatment plan. You can ask them for the outcome of the cancer MDT.
Sometimes it can seem like waiting for the opinion of the MDT is delaying your treatment, but it’s better to wait for perspectives from a whole team of experts.
