Multidisciplinary Cancer Management

Since the early 1990s, significant advances have been made in cancer management. Increased specialization within disciplines and more-sophisticated treatment techniques have increased the complexity of patient care. As a result, patient management has become very multidisciplinary in nature, leading to the concept of multidisciplinary cancer conferences (mccs). The mccs bring together various members of the health care team involved in a patient’s care, including physicians (oncologists, radiologists, surgeons, pathologists), nurses, social workers, dieticians, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists. The conferences are designed to enhance patient management and to optimize outcomes through interand intra-disciplinary discussions. The mccs take various forms, from multidisciplinary clinics to roundtable discussions. Most clinicians would recognize mccs as beneficial; however, a question remains: Do they improve patient outcomes? Additionally, the “fear factor” risk associated with enforcing a “wrong” decision, together with the subsequent potential legal implications, must not be disregarded. Moreover, most mccs are not standardized; many variations exist. The objective of the present study was to conduct a literature overview to assess the evidence for an impact by mccs on clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.