Hi LeeBee,

I work in the NHS and sometimes our acronyms can be confusing. MDTs are not limited to cancer care, I can't think of anywhere apart from the odd general practice which doesn't have them these days. In the good old days these were often called case conferences.

Most teams (whatever specialty from Mental Health to Heart Surgery) have regular team meetings to discuss new cases and to allocate the right people to the right patients. The meetings are called Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings, as they include more than one profession (discipline) to distinguish them from other regular nurses meetings, doctors meetings etc.

All that will happen is that all the new cases for the week will be assessed at the same time and actions agreed for each patient and the cases given to the most appropriate member of the team for action. Generally all cases, however serious, go through this process which also ensures everyone on the team has a fair workload.

I hope this helps. Good luck with your results.

Dave

I know that this is an old post but I've been waiting for result of a biopsy on my breast.  At the appointment the dr who did the biopsy said she didn't think there was anything to worry about as the sample looked ok  I've recurved a phone all today telling me an appointment has been made for next Tuesday at 10 to discuss results. I said I thought the dr said my results would come through the post, which I may have miss heated she said they don't normally do that and my appointment was at 10 o'clock after the MDT meeting, does that mean it about me or is this a general meeting.  I'm so worried now as originally my consultant made me think it would be ok.  

Hi Moonpie,

The days are long gone when consultants worked in isolation. These days most patients receiving hospital care are treated by a consultant led (or nurse led, or midwife led) team. An MDT is simply a team meeting where patients’ cases and their care plans are discussed. Sometimes its literally just “Mre Bloggs has had a scan/test, what were the results? Nothing unusual. OK - Jane if you could see her at her next appointment and give her the good news, that would be great. Next is Mr Jones - etc.

The problem with any profession is they often use jargon which sounds scary or complicated to outsiders. 

It’s bad practice to give results by phone or letter because even if the news is good we all have questions, even if it’s just “are you sure?”.

Good luck with your results

Dave

Thanks Dave. 

Thankyou for replying 
when I had my biopsy the doctor seem quite possitive that it would be ok. But the telephone call yesterday from whoever makes the appointments scared me.  She said my appointment was booked for 10 after the MDT meeting I googled it as I didn't know what is was and it said a meeting to discuss cancer care.  I don't know if the lady who phoned had my results in front of her or she just makes appointments and was generalising.  
hopefully it'll be good news on Tuesday keeping everything crossed. 
Tracy

Hi Moonpie, 

ive come across your post when I was trying to ascertain whether an MDT meeting instantly indicates something sinister.I  I hope your results were favourable to you and you are ok. 

Hi there. 
unfortunately my result were not good and I did indeed have cancer ,  I do think you can be called in if you haven't cancer too as there's obviously something a miss for you to be referred in the first place.  
I completed my treatment by the end of 2020 having had chemo lumpectomy and rads.  At this time I'm clear of the pesky cancer, getting on with life and god Dan enjoying my self. I hope if your waiting for result they are good news. All the very best to you.  

Hi Flees,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

I just wanted to reassure you that discussing your case at an MDT meeting is not neccessarily sinister. This is a routine meeting, between all of the different medical experts, likely to be involved in your care, should you have cancer. It is where your consultant discusses your results and, with the help of  his team, decides whether or not you need any treatment. If you do, they will discuss the best course of action and have a plan for you to move forward, when you get your results.

Do you know when you will get your resuults yet - it is usually quite soon after the MDT is held. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi moonpie,   I'm so sorry to hear that your outcome wasn't so good but find your positive attitude inspiring. This will be my 2nd MDT meeting to ascertain biopsy results,  the first was June 2021 where I was diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer and pagets disease. A recent ultrasound has shown shadows that Dr is unsure is scarring and she advised this procedure will be just like the last so I wanted to reassure myself MDT doesn't necessarily mean cancer,  it could be something else. Thank you for responding. I wish you well xxx

Hi jolamine thank you for your welcome and for your reassuring words. I am hopeful that this is not the return of breast cancer,  when I was first diagnosed in June 2021 I was on autopilot to get through the surgeries,  chemo and radiotherapy. I've literally just finished 18 infusions of herceptin and I'm on tamoxifen and zoladex for 5 years so surely God would not be so cruel for me to be diagnosed again so soon. I have been taking tamoxifen for a year now and only in December have I started experiencing cramps and menstrual pain,  pains down my left leg and across breasts,  that's why I had another ultrasound carried out and that's shown some shadows that can't be ruled out as just scarring so I'm now awaiting biopsy results. I was in denial of ever having cancer so didn't seek advice etc but now I feel I need some strength from fellow cancer warriors xxx

Hi Flees,

I am so sorry to hear that this could possibly be a second bout for you, but I do hope that it's not.  I know just how worrying this can be. I have had 2 bouts within a year of one another myself. Fortunately that was 13 years ago, but there is always the fear that it will reoccur or spread. Unfortunately, this is something that everyone who has had a cancer diagnosis needs to learn to live with.

I have been very fortunate, in that I have helped my family celebrate many milestones in the intervening years and feel very fortunate. Now that you've found this forun, you need never feel alone again. We have nearly all had cancer of some kind, so fully appreciate exactly what you are going through and are always here to support you I hope that you are coping with your treatment so far and look forward to hearing how you get on with your biopsy results.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you for replying jolamine, you must have been so shocked to have a reoccurrence so soon,  It feels almost  incredulous to me but the Dr who carried out ultrasound and biopsy advised that it can happen and unfortunately your own experience reaffirms it. I spoke with my Oncologist today who had called to bid me farewell after finishing herceptin last week, I ran over all my symptoms with her and she is focusing more on the pain in my leg,  which to me feels menstrual. She is referring me to have bone scan  to rule out spread to bones. I feel foolish in that if I hadn't focused on the breast pain and told the breast team my symptoms as a whole then I wouldn't necessarily been given an ultrasound and biopsy,  and they would refer me for scan. I think once you have experienced what we have then you just instantly focus on the site of where the cancer was. Thank you for your message and I will certainly keep in touch xxx

What was the outcome from your meeting in the end? Just found out they're holding a MDT today for my case after saying both biopsys were negative.  Yet after that had my follow up mri, was always penciled in so didn't worry. Two days later they said I now need a ct with contrast. Not just for the original pelvic area but for my abdomin and chest cavities too. Panicking. 

What was the outcome from your meeting in the end? Just found out they're holding a MDT today for my case after saying both biopsys were negative.  Yet after that had my follow up mri, was always penciled in so didn't worry. Two days later they said I now need a ct with contrast. Not just for the original pelvic area but for my abdomin and chest cavities too. Panicking.