Who is involved in your care?

Patient Guide

There are a number of medical specialists who you may meet, and may be involved in your care as part of your diagnosis or treatment for melanoma.

This team is sometimes referred to as a MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) or SSMDT (Specialist Skin Cancer Multidisciplinary Team). They meet up to help plan your care. The different professionals that may make up the team are shown below.

Dermatologist – A medical expert who specialises in preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases and concerns of the skin, hair and nails

Radiologist – A specialist doctor who interprets scans and X-Rays

Pathologist – A specialist doctor who identifies and diagnoses the changes caused by disease in the body’s cells and tissues

Plastic surgeon –  A specialist doctor who removes skin cancer and carries out skin reconstruction

Anaesthetist – A specialist doctor who administers anaesthetic before surgical procedures 

Oncologist – A specialist doctor who deals with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer

Clinical nurse specialist (CNS) – keyworker – A CNS is a nurse that has advanced training for specialist areas (skin cancer)

Support worker – A healthcare worker experienced in supporting people with a cancer diagnosis. They can give practical and emotional support, and information to help patients with lifestyle changes

Lymphoedema specialist – These are specialists (often nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists) who provide support and advice to help melanoma patients manage lymphoedema. Lymphoedema is a swelling in the limbs that can be caused by some cancer treatments (e.g complete lymph node dissection)

Oncology pharmacist – a pharmacist who is an expert in treatments used to treat cancer as well as medicines to manage any side-effects