Tumor Boards

Anadolu Medical Center has been making a difference in the sector by providing world-class healthcare services with its expert staff and technological infrastructure since its establishment. Especially a reference center in the field of Oncology, Anadolu Medical Center is also well-known for its “Tumor Boards” where every patient diagnosed with cancer is discussed in a multidisciplinary manner. In addition to the General Tumor Board, Anadolu Medical Center has a total of 11 tumor boards.

In addition to the General Tumor Board at Anadolu Medical Center, the number of tumor boards was increased in accordance with the standards of the Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI). Separate boards were established for each tumor to ensure that every patient diagnosed with cancer is seen by a tumor board. Each tumor board has a chairman.

Why Tumor Councils (Tumor Boards):

The aim is to create synergy by bringing together different disciplines within Anadolu Medical Center. The boards are working groups where employees from different disciplines come together. The existence and activities of the boards ensure continuous improvement and development in the organization.

Tumor Council (Tumor Board) Members:

Multidisciplinary Tumor Boards are carried out in a multidisciplinary structure with the participation of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, radiation physicists, nuclear medicine specialists, oncology nurses, case manager nurses, tumor board coordinator nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and occupational therapists. The participation of the entire multidisciplinary team in the meetings is encouraged with management support, and participation in the boards can be reflected in professional performance.

Roles and Responsibilities of Tumor Council (Tumor Board) Members

Oncology Board Chairman (Tumor Boards Chairman): Responsible for the cancer program at the hospital. Responsible for conducting the Oncology Board and all tumor boards. Encourages participation in tumor boards. Reminds all participants about patient confidentiality. Evaluates the reports of all boards once a year.

Tumor Board Chairman: Leads to ensure the smooth running of the tumor board, collects patient suggestions for inclusion in the board agenda, determines them according to selection criteria, ensures the effective functioning of the board, monitors the compliance of the decisions made in the boards with international guidelines, evaluates data, and reports.

Tumor Board Coordinator Nurse: Organizes tumor board meetings, arranges meeting conditions, shares the board agenda with the relevant parties, and ensures prepared participation. After the meeting, ensures that the decisions made are recorded in the patient's file, monitors compliance with board decisions and reports any deviations.

Physician (Primary/Responsible): Recommends cancer patients to the boards according to patient selection criteria, attends board meetings, prepares the patient to be presented according to the board agenda.
Presents the recommended cancer patient in the board, ensures the confidentiality of patient information.
Shares the treatment options and decisions made in the tumor boards with the patient and makes the final treatment recommendation.
Records the board treatment recommendation, the patient's decision, and the jointly agreed final treatment plan in the patient's file.

How Do Tumor Councils (Tumor Boards) Work?

Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Pathology must be included in each board. Additionally, surgeons from the relevant departments are also included in the boards. Psychiatrists or psychologists can be invited depending on the situation. Each board also has a chairman from the relevant department and a board coordinator nurse.

How Do Tumor Councils (Tumor Boards) Work at Anadolu Medical Center?

Even individuals who apply to Anadolu Medical Center for a second opinion, meaning patients whose documents have just arrived, are included in the board, discussed, and recorded. Many ideas are discussed in the boards, and the treatment of the patient is not left to the decision of a single person. There is a great benefit in obtaining the opinions of highly significant experts in the field. The most accurate decision regarding the patient is made jointly by all branches related to cancer in a multidisciplinary manner.

Which Tumor Councils (Tumor Boards) Are Available at Anadolu Medical Center?

In addition to the General Tumor Board, there are a total of 11 tumor boards at Anadolu Medical Center.

Head and Neck Tumor Board
Endocrine Tumor Board
Gastrointestinal System Tumor Board
Gynecological Tumor Board
Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Board
Breast Tumor Board
Neuro-Oncology Board
Pediatric Oncology Board
Thoracic Tumor Board
Uro-Oncology Board
Molecular Tumor Board

How Often Do the Boards Meet, How Many Cases Are Discussed?

Tumor boards meet 5 days a week, and 15-20 cases are discussed in each board meeting.

Head and Neck Tumor Council

Main Members:

ENT Specialist
Medical Oncology Specialist
Radiation Oncology Specialist
Pathology Specialist
Radiology Specialist
Nuclear Medicine Specialist
Medical Physics Specialist
Tumor Board Coordinator Nurse

Endocrine Tumor Council

Main Members:

Endocrinology Specialist
Medical Oncology Specialist
Radiation Oncology Specialist
General Surgery Specialist
Pathology Specialist
Radiology Specialist
Nuclear Medicine Specialist
Tumor Board Coordinator Nurse

Gastrointestinal System Tumor Council

Main Members:

General Surgery Specialist
Radiation Oncology Specialist
Pathology Specialist
Gastroenterology Specialist
Radiology Specialist
Nuclear Medicine Specialist
Medical Oncology Specialist
Intensive Care Physician
Thoracic Surgery Specialist
Radiation Physics Specialist
Tumor Board Coordinator Nurse

Gynecological Tumor Council

Main Members:

Gynecology Specialist
Medical Oncology Specialist
Radiation Oncology Specialist
Pathology Specialist
General Surgery Specialist
Radiology Specialist
Nuclear Medicine Specialist
Council Secretary
Tumor Board Coordinator Nurse

Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Council

Core Members:

Orthopedics Specialist
Radiation Oncology Specialist
Pathology Specialist
Radiology Specialist
Nuclear Medicine Specialist
Medical Oncology Specialist
Plastic Surgery Specialist
Thoracic Surgery Specialist
Medical Physics Specialist
Tumor Board Coordinator Nurse

Breast Tumor Council

Core Members:

General Surgery Specialist
Radiation Oncology Specialist
Pathology Specialist
Radiology Specialist
Nuclear Medicine Specialist
Medical Oncology Specialist
Plastic Surgery Specialist
Psychologist or Psychiatrist
Breast Center Case Manager
Physician Responsible for International Patients

Neuro-Oncology Council

Core Members:

Neurosurgery Specialist
Medical Oncology Specialist
Radiation Oncology Specialist
Neurology Specialist
Pathology Specialist
Radiology Specialist
Medical Physics Specialist
Tumor Board Coordinator Nurse

Pediatric Oncology Council

Core Members:

Pediatric Oncology Specialist
Radiation Oncology Specialist
Pathology Specialist
Pediatric Surgery Specialist
Urology Specialist
Radiology Specialist
Ophthalmology Specialist
Medical Physics Specialists
Tumor Board Coordinator Nurse

Thoracic Tumor Council

Watch our video to get detailed information about our Thoracic Tumor Board.

Core Members:

Thoracic Surgery Specialist
Medical Oncology Specialists
Radiation Oncology Specialist
Pulmonology Specialists
Nuclear Medicine Specialist
Pathology Specialists
Radiology Specialists
Board Secretary
Tumor Board Coordinator Nurse

Uro-Oncology Council

Watch our video to get detailed information about our Uro-Oncology Tumor Board.

Core Members:

Urology Specialist
Medical Oncology Specialists
Radiation Oncology Specialist
Pathology Specialist
Nuclear Medicine Specialist
Radiology Specialist
Board Secretary
Tumor Board Coordinator Nurse

Molecular Tumor Council

Cases to be Discussed:
Cancer patients who have undergone molecular testing are brought to the tumor board upon the recommendation of their treating medical oncologist.

Core Members:

Pathology Specialist
Medical Oncology Specialist

Besides the core members, all physicians at Anadolu Medical Center are natural members of the boards and can attend any meeting they wish.

Are Patients Satisfied with Tumor Boards?

Patients are satisfied with being discussed in tumor boards. A patient sees one doctor, but that patient is actually evaluated by 8-10 physicians in light of the latest developments, and a collective decision is made. Not only complex cases but every cancer-diagnosed patient is presented to the board. Furthermore, all processes at Anadolu Medical Center are closely monitored. The multidisciplinary approach, with joint evaluation and decision-making, aims to provide the best service to patients.

What is the Importance of Tumor Boards for Both Doctors and Patients?

Tumor Boards are highly beneficial for both patients and doctors. Firstly, every doctor has a say about each patient, and patients are followed up in a multidisciplinary manner. Opinions from all physicians are considered, and multiple recommendations are evaluated. Otherwise, a patient would have to visit all the relevant departments separately for their condition. Hence, being seen by the entire team is convenient and advantageous for the patient.

To provide good health services and prevent patient harm, a multidisciplinary approach is crucial. As seen in global statistics, one of the main reasons for problems occurring during healthcare services is communication issues among healthcare workers. Especially in situations requiring a joint decision from several disciplines, many problems arise from the lack of communication and collaboration. To adhere to the principle of "Do no harm" and offer the best service to patients, teamwork is essential. Oncology, in particular, necessitates even more collaboration. Cancer patients' conditions are more complex, often resulting in death or severe disability. The disease can affect multiple systems. Additionally, oncology literature evolves rapidly. Therefore, in boards, everyone can stay updated in their specialization. When gathered, each specialist can evaluate the patient from their perspective, and these views can be consolidated. Moreover, with the most current literature data and evidence, the healthiest decision for the patient is aimed. Thus, cancer diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up are discussed in the boards. Meeting together is critical. The most important platform for these meetings is multidisciplinary tumor boards.

Are Board Decisions Followed?

Cancers at Anadolu Medical Center are grouped based on organs. There is a structure of tumor boards that cover all possible cancers. Each tumor board meets once a week, depending on the cases and their number, discussing newly diagnosed patients or those requiring treatment changes or having unexpected developments. Each board has essential specialists who must attend. A common decision is made in the light of new developments and evidence-based information, which is recorded in the patient's file. This is then communicated to the patient by their follow-up doctor. The adherence to these decisions is also monitored. Sometimes the decision made by the board may not be followed; the patient might not want that treatment method or may want to continue treatment at another hospital. Or there may be no particular reason. Therefore, the outcome of the multidisciplinary approach is also tracked. At Anadolu Medical Center, adherence to decisions is quite high, with over 90% compliance with board decisions. According to OECI accreditation, at least 50% of newly diagnosed patients should be discussed in boards. At Anadolu Medical Center, this rate is over 90%.