In a very short time, a patient sees all the experts and physicians applicable to the case. In complex cases, tumor boards meet to discuss the course of action. The Chao center s team includes not only oncologists with specialties in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, but nutritionists, social workers, and psychologists. The adult tumor board meets weekly, while the breast tumor board, which includes a breast surgeon, medical oncologist, and radiation oncologist, convenes bimonthly. The Chao center also has specialty tumor boards for brain, pediatric, head and neck, and gynecological cancers.
Tumor boards allow for the pooling of knowledge, skills and past experience.
In well over 50 percent of the cases, it is impossible to take a cookbook approach. Some cases are so tough, so rare, or so complex that any one oncologist may never see a single case in his entire career. But if you put a number of oncologists together, chances are someone has encountered a similar case before. Tumor boards are very helpful when you are presented with a rare type of tumor, a rare presentation of a common tumor, or a situation requiring complex multidisciplinary care. Holcombe sees an average of 20 patients a week and follows another 200.