Oncology is a field of medical research specifically devoted to the study of cancer and its treatments. Oncologists are doctors who specialize in the treatment of cancer. Sometimes oncologists further specialize in a specific type of cancer or a specific treatment method.
What is a medical oncologist called?
Medical oncologist: A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer with chemotherapy and other drugs. A medical oncologist is different from a surgical oncologist, who mostly treats cancer with surgery.
What is the study of cancer called?
Oncology is the study of cancer. An oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer and provides medical care for a person diagnosed with cancer. The field of oncology has three major areas: medical, surgical, and radiation. A medical oncologist treats cancer using chemotherapy or other medications,...
What kind of specialist treats cancer?
Some specialists who treat cancer are: Hematologist: focuses on diseases of the blood and related tissues, including the bone marrow, spleen, and lymph nodes Radiation oncologist: uses x-rays and other forms of radiation to diagnose and treat disease
What is oncology?
Oncology is the study of cancer. An oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer and provides medical care for a person diagnosed with cancer. An oncologist may also be called a cancer specialist.
What kind of doctor treats cancer in children?
A pediatric oncologist treats cancer in children. Some types of cancer occur most often in children and teenagers. This includes certain brain tumors, leukemia, osteosarcoma, and Ewing’s sarcoma. Types of cancer more common in children sometimes also occur in adults. In these situations, an adult may decide to work with a pediatric oncologist.
What is a neuro oncologist?
Neuro-oncologists treat cancers of the brain, spine, and nervous system.
What is a tumor board?
Sometimes, a person's cancer diagnosis is complex. In this case, the patient's oncologist may ask a tumor board to review the case. In some cancer centers, a tumor board reviews all cancer cases.
What are the different types of oncologists?
Other types of oncologists include: 1 A gynecologic oncologist treats gynecologic cancers, such as uterine, ovarian, and cervical cancers. 2 A pediatric oncologist treats cancer in children. Some types of cancer occur most often in children and teenagers. This includes certain brain tumors, leukemia, osteosarcoma, and Ewing’s sarcoma. Types of cancer more common in children sometimes also occur in adults. In these situations, an adult may decide to work with a pediatric oncologist. 3 A hematologist-oncologist diagnoses and treats blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
What age do geriatric oncologists work?
Geriatric oncologists work with people with cancer who are age 65 and older. Older adults can have additional challenges. Geriatric oncologists specialize in providing the best care for older adults.
What is the treatment for cancer?
Radiation oncologists treat cancer using radiation therapy, which is the use of high-energy x-rays or other particles to destroy cancer cells.
What is the area of a thoracic oncologist?
Thoracic oncologists treat cancers inside the chest area, including the lungs and esophagus.
What kind of doctor do you see for cancer?
It depends on your type of cancer and the stage of your cancer. However, here’s a rundown of the cancer specialists you might see: Medical oncologist. This is the cancer specialist you’ll probably see most often. Usually your oncologist will oversee your general care and coordinate treatments with other specialists.
How to get the names of cancer specialists?
There are other ways to get the names of cancer specialists. You could call your local hospital and ask for the names of cancer specialists who are on staff. You could get the names of cancer specialists through different medical organizations, like the American Medical Association, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American College of Surgeons, or your local medical society. And you could contact top medical schools or cancer treatment centers in your state for references.
What Should You Look for in a Cancer Specialist?
Experience. A cancer specialist should have a lot of experience treating the specific type of cancer that you have. Ask how many cases your doctor has treated over their career and over the past year. How many is enough? There’s no easy answer. But you should have the feeling that your doctor is treating people like you on a regular basis.
What is a surgical oncologist?
Surgical oncologist. This is a surgeon who has special training in treating cancer. Your surgical oncologist may be called in to diagnose cancer with a biopsy. Surgical oncologists also treat cancer by removing tumors or other cancerous tissue. Depending on your case, you may also need to see other types of doctors for special cancer care.
What is the job of an oncologist?
Usually your oncologist will oversee your general care and coordinate treatments with other specialists. Your oncologist will also be in charge of chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. You’ll likely visit your medical oncologist for long-term, regular checkups. Radiation oncologist.
How many ways can you treat cancer?
Active surveillance is advised but there are three ways to treat cancer: with medicine (such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy), with radiation, and with surgery. Each treatment may be handled by a different specialist. Not ev,ery person will need all three types of treatments.
Is it bad to not be board certified in cancer?
That said, board certification is not available for every subtype of cancer treatment. So not being board certified is not necessarily a bad sign.