The GBM Multidisciplinary Team, with Julie Crawshay
A glioblastoma diagnosis rarely rests with a single doctor. Instead, care is usually shared across a group of specialists who meet and plan together. This is often called the multidisciplinary team, or MDT. For families, understanding who sits around that table can make appointments feel less confusing and can help you direct your questions to the right person.
The People You May Meet
Every hospital is organised a little differently, but many GBM journeys involve several of the following roles:
- Neurosurgeon, who considers surgery and operates when it is appropriate.
- Neuro-oncologist or medical oncologist, who oversees medication-based treatment.
- Radiation oncologist, who plans and supervises radiotherapy.
- Pathologist, who examines the tumour tissue and helps confirm the diagnosis.
- Radiologist, who reads scans such as MRI.
- Specialist nurse or care coordinator, who is often a steady point of contact between visits.
Allied health professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dietitians and social workers, may also join the team depending on your needs.
How the Team Works Together
At an MDT meeting, these specialists review scans, pathology results and your overall situation, then discuss the options together. The benefit is that a plan reflects several expert perspectives rather than one. The recommendation is then usually brought back to you by one of the doctors, who can explain the reasoning and answer questions.
Because so many people are involved, it can help to know who your main contact is. The Neuro Farmacist often suggests asking early on, at the very first appointments, who you should call with day-to-day questions and how to reach them. It is also worth asking how the team communicates with you between meetings, whether by phone, letter or a follow-up appointment, so that you are not left wondering when the next update will come.
Making the Team Work for You
Julie Crawshay speaks from experience as a caregiver when she says that families are part of the team too. You bring knowledge that no scan can show, including how your loved one is really coping at home. Keeping a simple diary of symptoms, questions and medication changes can make it easier to share that picture clearly.
If something is not clear, it is always reasonable to ask for a role to be explained, or to request that information be repeated. Many teams welcome a second person taking notes during appointments.
Every situation is unique, and the structure of care can vary between hospitals and countries. Please use this as a general orientation only, and always discuss the specifics of your treatment and who is responsible for each part with your own neuro-oncology team. Knowing who does what will not remove the hard parts, yet it can help you feel a little more oriented, which is something The Neuro Farmacist hopes to support.
Written for The Neuro Farmacist by Julie Crawshay.