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The BCC Team

Effectively managing advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC) involves collaborating with various specialists and patients. This multidisciplinary team approach ensures you get comprehensive care tailored to your needs. Here’s what you need to know about the healthcare professionals who may be involved in your treatment and how they work together to provide the best care.

Your multidisciplinary team can include1:

A clear referral system and a network of specialists can help ensure patients receive timely and thorough care. This is especially important for managing rare or high-risk types of BCC that can become more aggressive. By creating networks for prompt referrals, expert oncology care can significantly improve patient outcomes.2

The Association of Community Cancer Centers has highlighted strategies for effectively managing non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) through multidisciplinary care teams. Here’s how this approach benefits patients2:

  • Prompt Diagnosis and Treatment: Dermatologists play a key role in quickly diagnosing advanced or high-risk NMSC. They work closely with oncology teams to make well-informed treatment decisions, taking into account the patient’s preferences through shared decision-making.
  • Key Elements of Effective Care2:
    • Communication: Clear communication within the multidisciplinary team and with specialists, such as dermatopathologists and pathologists, ensures that high-risk features are reported accurately. Enhanced communication between patients and providers is also crucial.
    • High-Risk Identification: Identifying patients at high risk for recurrence or relapse helps provide targeted care.
    • Psychosocial Support: Recognizing the social, emotional, physical, and economic challenges patients face with advanced skin cancer is important for comprehensive care.
    • Treatment Options: Considering various treatments, including immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and adjuvant therapies, as well as enrolling in clinical trials for certain cases, ensures that patients have access to the best possible care.

What This Means for You

By working together, your healthcare team ensures you receive timely, comprehensive care. This collaborative approach tailors the treatment plan to your unique situation, from diagnosis to follow-up care, improving your overall outcomes and quality of life.3 Remember, ongoing communication with your primary care team and specialists is key to managing your health effectively.

Feel free to ask your care team members about their roles, their training, and the specific parts of your treatment they’ll be handling. Understanding how your team works and communicates with each other will help you and your loved ones know who to turn to for various concerns that may arise.3

References

  1. American Cancer Society. Treating Basal And Squamous Cell Skin Cancer. (https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/basal-and-squamous-cell-skin-cancer/treating.html).
  2. Association of Cancer Care Centers. Advanced Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers: Effective Practices in Multidisciplinary Care. (https://www.accc-cancer.org/home/learn/cancer-types/skin-cancer/advanced-non-melanoma-skin-cancers/advanced-nmsc-practices).
  3. American Cancer Society. Health Professionals Who Are Part of a Cancer Care Team. Last Revised: June 21, 2024. (https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/finding-care/health-professionals-associated-with-cancer-care.html).

All URLs accessed June 26, 2024

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