[The multidisciplinary breast cancer care team: promoting better care]

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in women in the Western world. Various sorts of therapies are available and treatment plans are becoming more and more complex. The treatment of breast cancer is based on several prognostic and predictive factors, of which the TNM-classification is the best known. However, several new factors have been discovered and implemented over the past decade. As well as these, economic factors and doctor- and patient-related factors are also important. As a consequence of the multitude of factors and the ensuing complexity of treatment, it has become impossible for a single doctor to coordinate the complete treatment of a patient. Therefore, it seems obvious that patients with breast cancer should be managed by a breast cancer care team. Specialists and nurses from different disciplines are represented within this team, with the advanced practice nurse as the primary contact person. This type of team helps to lower mortality, improve quality of care and lower associated costs.