Cancer Care Program - Staff and Physicians

Cancer Site Teams are multi-disciplinary teams of health professionals who focus on cancers in a particular category such as a disease site (e.g., breast, thoracic) or type (e.g., Neuroendocrine). Cancer Site Teams consist of health professionals from across the province who have an interest in that type of cancer. 

Cancer Site Teams provide disease-specific expertise and advice on policies, guidelines and standards with respect to:

• Clinical care
• Education
• Research for cancer patients with specific types of tumours

Multi-disciplinary Case Conferencing (MCC), also known as Tumour Boards, is a gold standard for cancer care. There is evidence that MCC may contribute to improved survival, increased guideline adherence, and improved outcomes for cancer patients. 

In Nova Scotia there are 13 provincial disease-specific Cancer Site Teams, which hold regular (generally weekly) case management conferences via Zoom for Healthcare to provide interdisciplinary clinical expertise and treatment recommendations. 

Each team has defined the types and relative priorities of cases that should be referred for case conference, and the disciplines that are required to participate. These standards can be found in the following resource: 

Health professionals may:

• refer cases to the appropriate Cancer Site Team for discussion, and
• participate in the discussion of their case.

For solid tumours (except Gyne Onc), complete the Cancer Site Team Consult Form to submit a case for discussion:

• Those without NSH email addresses should fax the form to 902-425-3682 to comply with the NSH Electronic Communications Electronic Messaging of Personal Health Information policy. 

For Gyne Oncology: Fax 902-473-7765

For Hematology: Fax 902-473-4447

If you have any questions about joining a Cancer Site Team or about submitting a case, email: CSTReferrals@nshealth.ca. 

This interdisciplinary provincial team works closely with all Cancer Site Teams and Senior Leadership of the Nova Scotia Cancer Care Program. They help to develop and facilitate implementation of a comprehensive psychosocial health care cancer program. The program:

• includes supportive care and psychosocial oncology
• encompasses relevant clinical, academic and community programs and services
• focuses on whole-person care across the lifespan

The Psychosocial Health Cancer Site Team does not hold case discussions.