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Making decisions with your healthcare team

Shared decision-making ensures that people living with cancer (or another illness) fully understand the options available to them and have the opportunity to actively take part in decisions surrounding their treatment and care.1,2 Shared decision-making is important to ensure any decisions that are made are right for you, based on how you are feeling and what you want.2

A shared decision-making conversation brings together:2

  • The doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional’s expert knowledge on treatment options, including their benefits and risks
  • Your preference, personal circumstance, wants and needs 

Many of the doctors, nurses and other members of your healthcare team will be aware of the importance of shared decision-making. They will include you in conversations, rather than making a decision on your behalf. But for some healthcare professionals, shared decision-making might be an afterthought. If this is the case, don’t be afraid to speak up. Be sure to ask about anything you’re not sure of and do voice your opinion. These are your decisions too!

Roles of the healthcare team and individual in shared decision-making3 

This infographic explains shared decision‑making between the healthcare team and the patient. At the top, it shows the role of the healthcare team as a three‑step process: first, making the patient aware that they have choices in their treatment plan; second, describing all available treatment options; and third, helping the patient explore their preferences to make decisions. Below this, the role of the patient is shown as another three‑step process: sharing their preferences, values, and beliefs about their health; understanding the different treatment choices; and taking part in the decision‑making process. Arrows between each step show that both roles follow a clear, connected sequence.

What to consider when making decisions with your healthcare team3

This infographic provides guidance to support shared decision‑making in healthcare and is presented in three columns. The first column encourages patients to be open about their preferences, values, and goals. It explains that some people may prefer treatments such as tablets, while others may prioritise treatments with fewer or less severe side effects and highlights the importance of telling the healthcare team what matters most, including both short‑term and long‑term goals. The second column encourages patients to ask questions when something is not clear. It explains that understanding different treatment options is an important part of shared decision‑making and advises patients to ask their healthcare team about the reasons for and against each option, including after treatment has started. The third column encourages patients to ask their healthcare team for tools that can help with shared decision‑making. It notes that some organisations offer helpful information and tools, and gives examples including Macmillan Cancer Support and the NHS. It also states that there are links to these organisations can be found below in the main body text.

Visit Macmillan cancer support here and the NHS website on shared decision making here 

Many of the doctors, nurses and other members of your healthcare team will be aware of the importance of shared decision-making. They will include you in conversations, rather than making a decision on your behalf. But for some healthcare professionals, shared decision-making might be an afterthought. If this is the case, don’t be afraid to speak up. Be sure to ask about anything you’re not sure of and do voice your opinion. These are your decisions too!

 

If you would like to find out more about shared decision-making, you can read the article below on making treatment decisions together. In this article you will find a video of a conversation between a patient and a hospital cancer specialist which aims to help you understand more about shared-decision making through a real-world conversation. 

Discussion on making decisions together
Donna and Dr Mertz sat together
Making treatment decisions together

Shared decision-making ensures that people fully understand the options available to them and have the opportunity to actively take part in decisions surrounding their treatment and care

View Video

References

  1. National Institutes for Health and Care Excellence. Shared decision making. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/about/what-we-do/our-programmes/nice-guidance/nice-guidelines/shared-decision-making [Accessed March 2026].
  2. NHS England. About Shared Decision-Making. Available from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/shared-decision-making/about/ [Accessed March 2026].
  3. Elwyn G, et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2012; 27: 1361–7. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3445676/ [Accessed March 2026].