Multidisciplinary pretreatment cancer planning.
One can estimate that 60% or more of cancer patients stand to benefit from the multidisciplinary treatment of cancer. Different treatments given in sequence mean real benefit in terms of absolute cure or length of disease-free life for many. While the details of treatment techniques can usually be worked out for each patient in expert fashion, the process of planning to fit the three main modalities together into a single plan presents complex problems. To obtain optimum results someone must assemble and coordinate the opinions of the oncologists who are consulted in each case; and someone must do it before treatment begins. Benefit is significantly reduced if the planning process is delayed until recurrence occurs. Those who act as primary physicians in caring for cancer patients have a newly defined major role to play: they must select the oncology team, coordinate the various opinions, and continue to supervise the course of the cancer throughout in order that the patients receive the best care. When a physician prepares for, and accepts, this role of leader-coordinator, and outlines in broad general terms a properly integrated plan from the first, details of therapy fall easily into place.
D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000191:economics; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States