The Cancer Treatment Team

What kinds of specialists treat persons with cancer?

Your cancer treatment may involve several types of healthcare professionals who, with you, form the "cancer care team." The multidisciplinary cancer team may include, but is not limited to, the following team members:

• Surgeon
  Once you have been diagnosed, you may see a surgeon who, in turn, may refer you to an oncologist - a physician with special training in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
  
  
• Oncologist
  Oncologists may be known as medical oncologists or radiation oncologists. Your oncologist will work with you to create a treatment plan. He/she usually acts as the coordinator of your cancer care.
  
  
• Oncology nurses
  Oncology nurses have special training in cancer and caring for patients during treatment. They will help carry out the treatment plan your oncologist creates and will help to guide patients though treatment with activities such as giving cancer medications, checking your progress, and answering your questions about treatment. If you are undergoing chemotherapy, oncology nurses will monitor any side effects.
  
  
• Social workers
  Social workers may provide counsel to you and your family, help you understand your diagnosis and treatment, and assist you in finding support groups or other cancer-related services.
  
  
• Psychiatrists and psychologists
  Psychiatrists and psychologists are specialists that can help if you have problems with depression or mental health. Cancer can be difficult for anyone to cope with, so make sure to seek help if necessary. Psychiatrists can prescribe medications such as antidepressants. Both specialists can help patients with counseling and other depression treatment methods.
  
  
• Rehabilitation specialists
  People with cancer sometimes need help recovering after treatment. Physical therapists, speech therapists, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, and others can be helpful to many patients, depending on the type of cancer and treatment.
  
  
• Dietitians
  Cancer and cancer treatment can make eating difficult. Some people lose weight or have trouble eating foods that provide the right energy. Registered dietitians (RD) help people maintain healthy eating habits during cancer treatment.
  
  
• Home health aides
  Home health aides specialize in helping patients manage tasks at home during treatment, and may help with everyday chores, such as cooking food or cleaning.

Other important specialists that may be involved in the treatment process include the following:

• Hematologists
  Physicians who specializes in the functions and disorders of blood.
  
  
• Pathologists
  Physicians who specializes in diagnosis and classification of diseases by laboratory tests.
  
  
• Lab technicians, radiation technicians, and pharmacists
  

Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Programs at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago At Rush, we offer a range of standard and investigational therapies for the treatment of cancer. We have more than a dozen programs specializing in the treatment of specific cancers, including: Bone Cancer Brain Cancer Breast Cancer Colorectal Cancer Gynecological Cancers Head and Neck Cancers Hematological Malignancies (cancers of the blood and lymph system) Leukemia Lung Cancer Lymphoma Myeloma Orthopedic Cancers Prostate Cancer Radiation Oncology Skin Cancers Rush cancer programs are approved by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. Only one in four hospitals that treat cancer receive this special approval. Click here to visit the home page for Cancer Programs at Rush. Cancer Screening and Prevention Cancer screening and prevention are priorities at Rush. Through genetic testing, counseling and advanced techniques for early detection, Rush helps people with a strong history of breast, ovarian, colon and other cancers. And in our state-of-the-art mammography center, we have one of the city’s finest teams of radiologists dedicated to early detection of breast cancer. Breast Imaging Center Genetic Diagnosing and Counseling Center Inherited Susceptibility to Cancer Center Skin Cancer Detection Cancer Support Programs at Rush Cancer is not only a physical ordeal, it is also an emotional one, affecting cancer patients, their family and friends. To help address the whole person, we offer a number of resources to help patients and their loved ones cope in this difficult time. For information on the cancer support programs at Rush click here. Clinical Trials Rush offers a number of clinical trials of experimental cancer treatments. Use the links below to search for studies for a particular form of cancer. If you are interested in exploring your eligibility for one of our open trials, please call (312) 942-8312. If we do not list trials for a particular type of cancer, please feel free to call us to discuss other treatment options. For information on cancer clinical trial programs at Rush click here. Find a Specialist at Rush To find a cancer specialist at Rush, click on one of the following links: Oncology Gynecologic Oncology Orthopedic Oncology Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Radiation Oncology Surgical Oncology To find specialist at Rush in other cancer-related areas, click on one of the following links: Bone Marrow Transplant General Surgery Hematology Or make an appointment with a doctor at Rush by calling our toll-free physician referral number: (888) 352-RUSH. To reach the hospital operator, call (312) 942-5000. If you have difficulty hearing, call (312) 942-2207 (TTY/TTD).

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