TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
COLLABORATIVE CARE Texarkana’s Tumor Board BY LIZ FLIPPO A ccording to the American Cancer Society, over two million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2024. This news will likely be followed by emotions of fear and anxiety, along with more questions than answers. Support from loved ones, neighbors, and the community may soon follow. Meal trains are planned, childcare and transportation needs are arranged, and financial, emotional, or religious support offers are extended. All of these gestures are intended to alleviate extra responsibilities and ease the treatment process ahead. What if family and friends weren’t the only
ones rallying together to create the ideal plan for the patient during cancer treatments? What if a team of various medical professionals could also collaborate, each bringing their personal expertise, creating the best treatment plan for patients? Although the terminology is more familiar in the medical field than to the general public, these meetings do exist, and they are happening right here in Texarkana. A tumor board is a collaborative meeting where a group of healthcare professionals from different specialties discuss and review individual cancer cases. Typically, a tumor board is comprised of medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists, surgical specialists, pathologists, nurses, social workers, and other professionals who can contribute to this well-rounded
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COMMUNITY & CULTURE
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