Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Care

The Breast Care Center at Fletcher Allen and the University of Vermont is a prototype for Multidisciplinary Cancer Care and a key element of the Vermont Cancer Center.  Specialists caring for other diseases use this effective model in their multidisciplinary approach as well.  For breast cancer patients, multidisciplinary care often includes: the referring primary care provider, the radiologist, the surgeon, the radiation oncologist, the medical oncologist, a plastic surgeon, a psychologist, a clinical trials coordinator and a nurse case manager.  A coordinated approach to each patient and his/her disease is essential.

Each patient is offered appointments with a "team" of doctors who will help guide them through their options and ultimately the care they receive.  The doctors, in turn, review each patient case in a confidential multidisciplinary conference.  This allows further discussion with more doctors outside of the patient's "team".