Simplifying the Complex World of Cancer
A coordinated, personalized approach to care
This can be especially true in the complex world of cancer care. Developing an effective treatment plan for cancer often involves input from a wide variety of specialists. For many patients the time from diagnosis to the start of treatment can be frustrating and lengthy. To eliminate the disjointedness that exists for newly diagnosed patients, UPMC Cancer Centers has developed disease-specific multidisciplinary clinics where patients see the entire team of specialists in a concentrated period of time, expediting the development and implementation of a treatment plan.
A Journey From Frustration to Treatment
Sam Birchfield’s journey through cancer began with a simple fall down the stairs while on vacation. After the fall, he developed pain and heartburn that would not go away. At first he and his wife dismissed the symptoms as indigestion, but after returning to his hometown of Dallas the symptoms persisted, so he made an appointment with his primary care physician. Mr. Birchfield’s doctor first suspected that his pain was related to bruising and inflammation from the fall, but testing revealed that his gallbladder wasn’t functioning properly. He had surgery to remove the gallbladder, but the pain did not go away. After further testing, a small mass was discovered on his pancreas, which was eventually diagnosed as adenocarcinoma. His surgeon in Texas felt that the mass was inoperable and made recommendations for palliative care to make him more comfortable. Frustrated, Mr. Birchfield began a nation-wide search for alternative treatment options, which ultimately led him to the Pancreatic Cancer Center of UPMC Cancer Centers. “By the time a patient like Mr. Birchfield has seen all the specialists, valuable time may have passed,” says A. James Moser, MD, co-director, Pancreatic Cancer Center. “For certain cancers, the patient may become too frail for treatment which might otherwise have been possible.”
At UPMC Cancer Centers, multidisciplinary clinics bring together a team of specialists — medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists; disease-specific specialists such as gastroenterologists, pulmonologists, and neurologists; and pathologists and radiologists — to expedite patient evaluations, saving valuable time. Clinics are setup by cancer type, including adult neurological, breast, head and neck, lung, lymphoma, pancreatic, and thyroid cancers. Newly diagnosed patients work with a coordinator who serves as the point person for the treatment team — reviewing the patient’s history and making appropriate appointments based on the patient’s needs and the team’s recommendations. Supportive services, such as nutrition experts, behavioral medicine, palliative care, pain and rehabilitation services, oncology social workers, and cancer education specialists, are also part of the multidisciplinary team to enhance the patient experience. Another important component of the multidisciplinary model is the incorporation of clinical trials in the treatment plan, combining innovative and promising clinical trial options with the best standard-of-care therapies for each cancer type. “One of the most important functions of a disease-oriented program is to provide an infrastructure for physicians to collaborate with clinical researchers to develop novel therapies,” says Frank Lieberman, MD, director, Adult Neuro Oncology Program. “Clinical trials are significant to the development of new therapies that may improve patient outcomes.”
The cornerstone of the multidisciplinary approach is the close coordination with the referring physician. Once a treatment plan has been developed, the team provides immediate feedback to the referring physician to ensure a complete continuum of care. “The collaborative framework of the multidisciplinary clinics enables the team to work through the complexities of each individual case to develop the most appropriate treatment plan,” says David L. Bartlett, MD, chief, Division of Surgical Oncology, and director, UPMC Cancer Centers Multidisciplinary Clinics. “The goal is to deliver a coordinated, personalized approach to each patient and their family during this stressful period.”
Mr. Birchfield says that his experience with the Pancreatic Cancer Center has been tremendous. “When I came to Pittsburgh for my initial evaluation, In ever expected that I would meet all the doctors, have additional testing, and leave with a treatment plan in place. They have been wonderful helping me when I am in Pittsburgh and coordinating my care with my oncologist in Texas.”