Oncologists

Oncologists are doctors who specialise in cancer. Often, you will be initially referred to a medical oncologist who treats all types of cancer. 

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Watch and listen to a medical oncologist talk about her role caring for patients:

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As different types of cancer behave differently, doctors often specialise in particular types of cancer or areas of cancer treatment including:

• Surgical oncology – cancer surgery
• Radiation oncology – radiation therapy
• Medical oncology – drug treatments including chemotherapy/hormone therapy/immunotherapy/targeted therapy

Nurses

Nurses work with you to identify and assess your supportive care needs, monitor your condition, administer medication, and develop care plans. Nurses also act as patient educators and collaborate closely with other members of the team to ensure the highest quality of care to patients. Nurses may be varied in their roles, which may include:cancer nurses, nurse consultants and research nurses.

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Watch and listen to a nurse talk about how nurses can help throughout the diagnostic and treatment journey:

Care Coordinators

You may encounter a care coordinator. Some hospitals have dedicated care coordinators, who are responsible for coordinating patient care. They act as a central point of contact for patients, families, and healthcare providers, to ensure that care is continuous across the different health services a patient is involved with. They help patients by:

• Guiding them towards useful services and resources
• Being a point of contact for any questions or needs
• Leading their care team 
• Working to identify goals for care management
• Supporting patient self-management‍‍
  

Allied Health Professionals

• Dietitian - manages nutrition issues including prescribing alternative feeding
• Occupational therapist (also called OT) - enhances participation in day-to-day life including independence, autonomy and safety
• Physiotherapist (also called Physio, PT) - improves physical capacity
• Psychologist - supports emotional and psychological wellbeing
• Social worker - provides counselling, education and information services, referrals to community resources and helps people navigate the healthcare system
• Speech pathologist (also called Speech Therapist, SP) - manages patient difficulties with speaking or swallowing food and fluids, and increasing their capacity to communicate.

Other Specialists

• Genomics specialist - specialist scientist who interprets the patient's genetic profile from tumour cells to help inform diagnosis and personalise treatment
• Pathologist - specialist doctor in diagnosing disease by examining body tissue and fluid under a microscope
• Plastic surgeon - specialist doctor in reconstructive surgery and functional improvements
• Radiologist - specialist doctor in using imaging (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans etc.) to diagnose and treat medical conditions, including cancer