When you hear “you have cancer,” your world comes crashing down. It’s easy to feel like you’re all alone. But at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, you’ll have a group of experts at your side to lift you up and help you fight.
Multidisciplinary cancer care is a fancy phrase that describes our team approach to helping people with cancer. It means we bring together multiple specialists who focus on you and your needs.
“Our entire team — nurses, oncologists, specialists and support staff — works together with a shared commitment to provide outstanding care,” says Douglas Flora, MD, Executive Medical Director of Oncology Services at St. Elizabeth. “This culture of collaboration makes a real difference.”
So, what, exactly, do you get out of our multidisciplinary team? More than you might realize.
Exceptional Expertise
We know more about cancer today than we ever have. No single care provider can be an expert in all aspects of the disease and its treatments. Our team includes board-certified doctors and nurse practitioners who specialize in specific areas of cancer care. We have experts in surgery, radiation therapy and medical oncology. The latter includes treatment with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and targeted treatments.
We also have providers with advanced training in areas of the body where cancer originates. These include experts such as gynecologic oncologists, urologists and ear, nose and throat doctors.
Other specialists who might be on your care team include:
- Cardio-oncology experts who help safeguard your heart during and after treatment.
- Certified oncology nurses with special training in cancer care.
- Pathologists who study tissue samples and provide information that helps doctors plan your treatment.
- Radiation therapists who provide radiation therapy with the help of medical physicists and dosimetrists who calculate your radiation dose.
Team members have both expertise and experience. They help you receive the most up-to-date, safe and thorough cancer care.
Personalized Cancer Treatments
No two cancers — or people — are exactly alike. This means your treatment may differ from someone with a similar diagnosis.
Our multidisciplinary team works together to offer precision medicine — treatment that’s best for your unique case. We rely on our expertise and weigh everything we know about your cancer — and you — to make recommendations. From the latest surgical procedures and medications to cutting-edge forms of radiation therapy, we create a treatment plan specifically for you.
At St. Elizabeth, you benefit from specialized pharmacists and tools like pharmacogenomic testing. The test provides insight into how your body will respond to certain medicines. It may help us determine, for example, which chemotherapy drugs will best attack your cancer and minimize side effects.
We also have team members who lead clinical trials. This means that, when appropriate, we can offer promising new treatment options at St. Elizabeth. You can get them here before they’re widely available.
Unmatched Support
It is not easy to deal with cancer. So, team members provide you and your family with holistic support for body, mind and spirit.
- Integrative oncology specialists use a variety of tools to help you manage treatment side effects. They can also help you address the mental and emotional challenges associated with your cancer.
- Nurse navigators work with you from the moment of diagnosis. They coordinate your care, answer questions and connect you to resources.
- Oncology social workers offer counseling. They also provide referrals to other resources, such as financial assistance programs.
- Pastoral care staff provide spiritual support.
- Physical, occupational and speech therapists can help you function better during and after treatment.
- Registered dietitians help you make food choices that benefit you during treatment and after.
Complete Cancer Care
Our multidisciplinary team enables us to provide all aspects of cancer care. In addition to treatment, you can turn to us for help with prevention, screening, diagnosis and survivorship.
We offer advanced screening tests like 3D mammography for breast cancer and low-dose CT scans for lung cancer. Experienced radiologists interpret these tests. In some cases, they also perform biopsies to make a diagnosis.
Genetic counselors can evaluate your risk of certain cancers if they run in your family. They help you and other family members develop personalized screening and prevention plans when recommended. We also offer a cancer prevention clinic, so you get the care you need when you need it.
Of course, your cancer journey doesn’t end when treatment does. Many people find it difficult to return to everyday life. Our team provides survivorship services to help you move forward.
Make Our Team Your Team
If you or a loved one face a cancer diagnosis, trust St. Elizabeth Healthcare for expert, coordinated care.
Schedule a consultation with our multidisciplinary team today and take the first step toward personalized treatment and support.
