Updated on: Sep 14, 2022
Health Care Team Members
Your health care team will work together to give you:
- Health care information
- Education about your health, care and treatments
- Support and help on where to find support
- Care before, during and after your treatment
Your health care team is not only made up of staff from the WWRCP, but also include health care providers in the community and at other hospitals.
| STAGE IN THE CANCER CONTINUUM | TEAM MEMBER | ROLE |
| PREVENTION/SCREENING | Family Doctor | A doctor who has special training in general health conditions. They are trained to prevent, diagnose and treat a number of different diseases or illnesses for the general public. |
| Nurse Practitioner | A registered nurse (RN) who has had extra education and training. This allows them to order certain tests, treat medical conditions and perform medical acts without direct orders from a doctor. | |
| DIAGNOSIS | Family Doctor | Your family doctor might have ordered some testing for you. They will tell you about the results of these tests, and this might include a diagnosis of cancer. |
| Surgical Oncologist | A cancer doctor who specializes in treating cancer through surgery or surgical methods. | |
| TREATMENT | Medical Oncologist | A cancer doctor who specializes in treating cancer with the use of medication (chemotherapy, immunotherapy etc.) |
| Radiation Oncologist | A cancer doctor who specializes in treating cancer using radiation therapy. | |
| Surgical Oncologist | A cancer doctor who specializes in treating cancer through surgery or surgical methods. | |
| General Practitioner of Oncology | A doctor that works closely with Oncologists and the health care team to care for you. | |
| Palliative Care Doctor | A doctor who helps to prevent and relieve the suffering of people with complex, serious or terminal illness. They aim to support quality of life. | |
| Oncology Nurse | A nurse who has special training in caring for people with cancer. They work in clinics, chemotherapy suites and on inpatient oncology units. | |
| TREATMENT RECOVERY & SURVIVORSHIP | Pharmacist | - Teaches you about your pills/medications - Offer support for medication issues - Prepares your medications |
| Registered Dietitian (RD) | - Helps you with eating and nutrition through treatment - Uses nutrition to manage side effects - Supports you with recovery from treatment | |
| Registered Social Worker (RSW) | - Provides support and counselling to you throughout your cancer experience - Helps to connect you with community resources | |
| Radiation Therapist (RT) | - Helps to plan and deliver your radiation treatments | |
| Spiritual Care Practitioner | - Supports your spiritual health and well-being. | |
| Palliative Care Nurse | A nurse that has special training in palliative care, focused on relieving pain and symptoms and improving your quality of life. | |
| Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) | - Assess swallowing disorders - Provide support when speech or swallowing skills become impaired |