The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Multi-Disciplinary Teams

Every person with a suspected or confirmed cancer is cared for by a team of healthcare professionals known as the multidisciplinary team (MDT).

All MDTs include:

  • Cancer nurse specialists  – who provide expertise in supporting patients and carers through the provision of information, guiding through tests, managing symptoms and are point of contact for patients
  • Physicians - who have an expertise in the diagnosis and medical intervention of specific diseases
  • Radiologists – who specialise in the interpretation and recommendation of scans      and may also take biopsies
  • Pathologists –who examine the tissue and cells removed during a biopsy or surgery
  • Surgeons - who perform operations
  • Oncologists – who specialises in anti-cancer treatment including chemotherapy and      radiotherapy
  • Research Nurses – who can discuss the option of taking part in clinical trials

Some MDTs also include:

  • Dieticians
  • Physiotherapists
  • Speech & Language Therapists
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Radiographers

There are other healthcare professionals who may be involved in your care and include:

  • your GP
  • Palliative care team
  • District nurse
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Social Worker
  • Clinical Psychologist