How Your Cancer Care Team Works Together for You
Cancer can be scary. The complexities of treatment, costs and outcomes stir up a myriad of emotions. That means your cancer care team needs to be expansive — so they can meet all the needs your personal cancer treatment may include. This care team is available to patients across the region and always aims to deliver consistent, quality care.
But first, who is the most important person on your cancer team? YOU.
“You, the patient, are a member of your own cancer team,” said Nathaniel Hruby, Avera Medical Group Gynecologic Oncology clinic manager. “Your participation is key to the best possible outcome in your situation.”
Multidisciplinary Cancer Team
Cancer affects the body, mind, spirit, relationships and finances. Because of this, it’s helpful to have experts and advocates in all corners.
Physical Care
Your course of treatment determines what physicians you will encounter. In most cases, you’ll have a primary medical oncologist who will guide you through treatments and follow-up care. They direct treatments for many types of cancer and are at the center of your care plan.
Other specialized physicians and experts include, but aren’t limited to:
- A surgeon to remove the tumor
- A hematologist, who specializes in blood cancers
- A radiation oncologist to oversee radiation
- A plastic surgeon for reconstruction and aesthetics
- The expert team of Avera Precision Oncology study your tumor biopsy and genomic profile to inform treatment decisions
Spiritual and Emotional Care
To care for your mind and spirit, there’s access to resources — some of which are available at all hours of the day.
When things get tough, reach out:
- Avera Cancer Institute Navigation Center is available 24/7/365 for you or loved ones. Call 888-422-1410 for cancer-related information and support. Even non-Avera patients and families can use this resource.
- Chaplains help you process heavy emotions and spiritual questions.
- A mental health oncology counselor helps you work through complicated emotions, thoughts and concerns.
- A social worker helps you find local support groups, navigate financial questions, locate lodging and travel resources, coordinate care near home, and more.
Tips for Cancer Patients
- Keep your experts’ contact information ready for when you need them
- Organize informative handouts from your team in a folder or binder
- Ask questions right away in appointments, contact your navigator or reach out to the Navigation Center
- Bring a friend or loved one to appointments to listen, ask questions and offer support
- Track your progress, side effects, and mental and emotional concerns, and bring this information to your appointments
Additional Support Services and Staff
At Avera, you have additional support from these various experts:
- A dietitian can help if treatment makes you nauseous, or if you want to know how healthy eating supports cancer care. Every cancer patient has access to this service.
- A genetic counselor talks with you to consider your family history for different types of cancers and concerns about possibly passing a genetic risk for cancer on to your children. After a consultation, genetic testing will be offered if appropriate.
- A patient navigator is assigned to many patients — in addition to access to the 24/7 telephone-based Navigation Center — depending on their location and tumor type, to assist with questions and resources.
- Cancer-specific clinical staff, such as advanced practice providers and nurses, are also an integral part of your team.
- A clinical research coordinator will follow your treatment if you qualify for a clinical trial in addition to standard of care.
How We Offer Consistent Care Across the Region
Avera’s cancer care is an established accredited network through the Commission on Cancer and Quality Oncology Practice Initiative. This means care must be delivered consistently, whether you’re receiving care at Avera Cancer Institute locations in Aberdeen, Marshall, Sioux Falls, etc.
“Because all our six Avera Cancer Institute locations are interconnected, we strive for the highest quality standards which are tested and upheld at each location,” said Hruby. “We’re proud to be one of a handful of sites in the nation to achieve this accreditation.”
One way Avera does this is to discuss individual patient cases as a group.
“Avera Cancer Institutes across the region have built a strong network of multidisciplinary groups called tumor boards,” Hruby said. “Physicians can add their patients to in-person or virtual boards which allow other Avera cancer specialists to review and provide insight.”
These boards include medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, hematologists, transplant physicians, surgeons, research team members, patient navigators, genetic counselors and more who review cases as a collaborative team.
“No physician is an expert at all things,” said Hruby. “This is why a physician team collaborates and provides feedback so patients receive the highest level of expertise possible.”
Learn more about cancer care at Avera.
