Breast cancer care team

Navigating your breast cancer care team

Your breast cancer care team brings together doctors, nurses, social workers, and others — all with different training and skillsets — to offer support before, during, and after treatment. If you’ve recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, remembering the titles of all the people involved in your care and what they do can be overwhelming. Here are just a few of the caregivers you meet on your journey.

Medical oncologist

A medical oncologist is often the main health care provider during cancer treatment and is sometimes the first person you’ll meet once you’ve been told you have cancer, depending on the cancer type. Medical oncologists are doctors who specialize in cancer diagnosis and treatment. They usually treat cancer with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. They diagnose, recommend treatment, oversee treatment effectiveness, and coordinate other specialists such as your surgeons.

Surgical oncologist

Also known as oncology surgeons, surgical oncologists are doctors who have training in surgical procedures to treat cancer, such as lumpectomy and mastectomy. They also can perform a biopsy to diagnose cancer. Depending on the type of cancer you have, you might meet with a surgeon first to go over your treatment plan, rather than a medical oncologist. They also understand other treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, so they can explain your treatment options to you.

Radiation oncologist

Radiation oncologists are doctors who specialize in radiation therapy to treat cancer. With the help of imaging techniques, such as CT scans and MRIs, radiation oncologists can learn information about a tumor and map out how best to deliver high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells. People who receive radiation therapy may also be treated with chemotherapy, surgery, and targeted therapy.

Plastic surgeon

A plastic surgeon is a doctor trained in breast reconstruction and procedures to recreate the appearance of the breast. If you decide to have breast reconstruction after a lumpectomy or mastectomy, your oncology surgeon and plastic surgeon will work together during the operation.

Pathologist

A pathologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing cancer by looking at cells and tissues under a microscope. You won’t personally meet a pathologist, but after they examine your biopsy tissue, they write up a pathology report that describes your diagnosis and may do additional tests on cancer tissue or blood to describe your type of breast cancer. This report typically is sent to your medical oncologist, surgeon, and radiation oncologist so that all treating physicians always have access to it.

Oncology nurses or nurse practitioners

Oncology nurses and nurse practitioners are nurses who have extensive knowledge in working with people who are going through treatment for cancer. You might see an oncology nurse working with different people on your cancer care team, such as radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, or in surgery. They administer medications, infusion therapy, manage radiation side effects, educate, and coordinate care with other members of your care team.

Breast cancer care navigators

Nurse navigators are a requirement for hospitals with accredited cancer programs. East Jefferson was the first hospital in our region to launch a navigator program. Breast cancer nurse navigators help put all the pieces to the puzzle together and are key to maneuvering and understanding the complex treatment journey. These specially trained nurses guide you, and your family, through every aspect of your cancer journey by coordinating appointments, explaining new terminologies/procedures, referring you to reliable resources, and acting as a sound board for your concerns. They can help financially navigate with suggestions about programs and grants available to ease the financial burden of treatment.

Talk to a Cancer Care Navigator

Social worker

Social workers who specialize in cancer care have training and expertise in how to support people working through the emotions that may come with a cancer diagnosis. They can help guide you to mental and spiritual resources such as finding support groups, connecting you with financial or transportation assistance, and advocate for you when there are barriers to your care — like providing information on family leave and disability benefits.

Dietician

Registered dieticians can specialize in working with people living with cancer. They can help you manage side effects such as nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy or from cancer itself. Dieticians can offer meal planning, weight concern suggestions, and changes in taste, smell, and appetite that cancer treatment can bring.

Genetics and Survivorship Nurse

A genetics nurse is a specialized registered nurse trained to provide health care and support for patients who have genetic-related diseases like cancer and need genetic counseling or testing. Genetics nurses are knowledgeable and skilled in providing patients with information about their genetic condition, assisting with coordinating care to maximize health outcomes, as well as providing education and support for families.

Questions or concerns about breast cancer call our cancer navigator 504-503-5594.