THE MDT
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What is an MDT meeting? An MDT (Multidisciplinary Team Meeting) is a meeting of a group of professionals from several clinical disciplines who meet regularly to make decisions regarding treatment of individual patients with cancer. The MDT places patient’s needs and wellbeing at the centre of their care, to ensure that they offer the highest quality treatment pathway, based on the best evidence available. Essentially MDTs are key decision-making forums for the management of patients with cancer, with the emphasis on collaboration between different specialties. Several things are considered to arrive at the best treatment plan: • The type of cancer • The size of cancer • Whether your cancer has spread • Your general health and medical backgroundCommon Questions • National guidelines for managing your cancer1. Can I live without my prostate?
Yes, a man can live without his prostate. The whole prostate may be removed for cancer or part of it when it is enlarged and causing symptoms. MDT meetings are considered the ‘gold standard’ in the UK for patients with cancer.
Why are MDTs in place?
These meetings started in the 1990s to improve of cancer care and to 2. the Whatquality conditions other than cancer affect the prostate? improve survival rates in the UK. They were also can established to ensure that care is • Bmain enign (non-cancerous) consistent with the best available evidence. The aims are: enlargement called BPH
• Timely diagnosis and treatment of patients with cancer- infection or inflammation • Prostatitis • Patient care is evidence-based • Continuity of care
of the prostate.
3. Do biological women have a prostate? No.
• Information exchange and regular communication between all those involved 4. How big can the prostate get? in looking after patients with cancer There is no real upper limit. • A small sized prostate has a volume of 30-40ml • A medium sized a volume Opportunity for learning and education to keep doctors upprostate to datehas with of 40-80ml best practice • A large sized prostate has a volume Identify patients who are eligible for research in clinical greater thantrials 80ml.
• Streamline resources for best management • •
FIGHTING PROSTATE CANCER - A SURVIVAL GUIDE
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