When you hear the words ‘You have cancer’, your world as you’ve known it changes in a myriad of ways.

Imagine how reassuring it would be to know you have the benefit of not only one skilled specialist, but also the input from a team of 15-20 health professionals—all experts in various aspect of cancer care—who voluntarily invest their time to give you the best outcome and support.

At Sydney Adventist Hospital (the San) these teams are called multidisciplinary teams. There are 11 of these teams for 11 different cancer streams.

Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) meet regularly to donate their skills and experience towards your particularly unique cancer journey—from diagnosis, to treatment, to recovery and survivorship.

The San was one of the early adopters of the concept of MDTs, holding its first multidisciplinary team meeting 20 years ago. The Breast MDT was the first, followed closely by other cancer streams.

“In these MDT meetings, clinicians review the diagnostic information, the clinical presentation and the relevant medical and psychosocial issues. We discuss different viewpoints and the most up-to-date research, clinical trials, and evidence-based treatment approaches,” said Professor Michael Hughes, Surgical Oncologist and Chair of Breast MDT at the San Cancer ‘war room’

At the San, multidisciplinary teams meet in a purpose-built mini-auditorium, filled with high-definition big screens, people smarts and tech smarts—not unlike the war rooms you see in movies. It is encouraging for patients to know that while they face treatment, there are dozens of people behind the scenes who are giving their best towards each patient’s care.

“The MDT facilitates a very smooth transition across the specialties for each patient. It is also a great quality-assurance process, which patients appreciate,” said Clinical Professor Gavin Marx, Medical Oncologist and Director of the San Integrated Cancer Centre.

Radiation Oncologist, Professor John Boyages AM, concurs. “MDTs are a real safety net, and that is important. If you’re worried about something with one of your patients, you can bring it to the whole group. Patients appreciate that Gold standard in cancer care”

The MDT meetings have come a long way since they were first introduced at the San in 2005. In those days multidisciplinary teams met in the hospital boardroom, with paper copies of everything, and x-ray films viewed on a portable lightbox wheeled into the room.

“In 2017, thanks to the exceptional generosity of the Gates family, a purpose-built, high-tech MDT facility opened at the San,” said Professor Marx. “This, combined with the development of a dedicated cancer information management system (funded through the San Foundation), took MDTs to the next level at the San.”

“The concept of multidisciplinary care is well recognised as the gold standard for optimising patient care in the cancer setting,” added Prof Marx.

Reducing the burden for patientsA cancer diagnosis can come with an avalanche of information. Too much information from too many sources too quickly can be overwhelming. The MDTs help to avoid this.

“The San’s multidisciplinary teams are truly integrated, collegiate and respectful,” said Prof Boyages. “By working together, we review and visualise each patient’s imaging, nuclear studies, and histopathology in detail. This allows us to provide patients with a clear, coordinated treatment strategy without the ‘specialist ping-pong’ so common elsewhere. It’s teamwork at its very best, and patients and their families benefit.”

Always looking to improve patient outcomes there are 11 MDTs at the San including: Breast; Gastrointestinal; Neuro-oncology; Lung; Urology; Melanoma, Sarcoma, Head and Neck Cancer; Haematology; Endocrinology; Gynaecological Oncology; Prostate.

A/Prof Stephen Pillinger, Chair of the Gastrointestinal MDT said MDT meetings are integral to cancer care, and that all cancers should be discussed at an MDT. “Multidisciplinary team meetings ensure cancer is managed not by one physician, but by a whole oncological team, providing clinical oversight and consistency. It gives patients reassurance that the latest research is taken into account; that all treatment options are considered until consensus is reached on the best pathway; and that cancer care is being conducted in the most thorough and up-to-date manner possible.”