Your Medical Team for Bone Cancer Treatment at the University of Colorado Cancer Center

Institutes of Excellence-like the University of Colorado Cancer Center -are known for attracting the best and brightest doctors due to their unique research and educational opportunities. This means each doctor on your care team has superior training in his or her area of expertise. These doctors then bring their specialties together to create a patient-focused approach for each individual patient.

The University of Colorado Cancer Center bone cancer program is home to respected multidisciplinary medical and scientific team of experts who specialize in the care of bone cancer.

Each doctor on the team has a different area of expertise in gastrointestinal cancer. Together, they combine their skills to determine and provide what’s best for you-an individual patient-based upon the type of cancer you have, how far it has spread, and even based upon your genes.

The UCCC Bone Cancer Program Team:

• Provides state-of-the-art care for those diagnosed with bone cancer
• Is recognized as a center for developing and setting new standards in the treatment of bone and related cancers
• Is recognized as a center for second opinions on all aspects of bone cancer care

Your Medical Team

You will receive care from different types of practitioners when you are diagnosed with bone cancer. Here is a list of the types of people you may encounter.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Surgeon/Musculoskeletal Orthopedic Oncologist – a doctor who specializes in performing orthopedic surgery and diagnosing and treating patients with bone and soft tissue cancer

Medical Oncologist – A doctor who prescribes chemotherapy and manages overall cancer treatment of patients

Radiation Oncologist – A doctor who treats patients with cancer using radiation therapy as the main treatment

Pathologist – A doctor who identifies disease by studying tissues under a microscope

Radiologist – A doctor who uses medical imaging technologies like CT scans and MRIs to diagnose and sometimes treat disease

Interventional Radiologist – A doctor who uses medical imaging technologies and performs embolization—a procedure used to close one or more blood vessels feeding a tumor

Cytologist – A scientist who helps with cancer diagnosis by studying a tumor’s genetic make-up

Rehabilitation

After surgery for your bone or soft tissue cancer, you will spend much of your time and energy on becoming mobile again:

Physiatrist/Physical Rehabilitation Physician – A doctor who specializes in physical abilities and long-term rehabilitation

Physical Therapist – A trained health professional who gives patients exercises and other physical activities to help them improve their mobility and strength and reduce pain

Occupational Therapist – A trained health professional who helps patients manage their daily activities

Social Worker – A professional trained to talk with patients and their families about emotional or physical needs and who helps find them support services

Psychologist – A trained professional who can talk with patients and families about emotional or personal matters and who also can perform cognitive ability testing

Psychiatrist – A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders