Dr. VanderWalde on the Importance of Multidisciplinary Care in Rectal Cancer

Noam VanderWalde, MD, MS, an associate professor of radiation oncology at West Cancer Center and Research Institute, discusses the importance of implementing multidisciplinary care for patients with rectal cancer.

The armamentarium in rectal cancer has expanded significantly over the years, explains VanderWalde. Moreover, there is no established standard of care for patients and multiple treatments can be utilized.

As such, treatment decisions should be made in a multidisciplinary setting that includes medical oncologists, surgeons, and radiation oncologists, VanderWalde says. Notably, patient preference, as well as the specific characteristics of their disease, should be taken into account during treatment selection.

Presenting rectal cancer cases in a multidisciplinary clinic, as well as considering expert opinion, could provide the optimal care for patients in this space, concludes VanderWalde.