What kind of Doctor treats cancer?
This cancer specialist treats cancer with radiation therapy. 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.
What is a medical oncologist?
A medical oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer. You may need to see an oncologist if you have an advanced or high-risk type of skin cancer. There are different subtypes of oncologists, including:
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,...
Do you need all three types of cancer specialists?
Not every person will need all three types of treatments. 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.
What is the role of a doctor in cancer?
Delivering quality and compassionate care. Helping a patient manage the symptoms and side effects of cancer and cancer treatment. Different types of doctors often work together to create a patient’s overall treatment plan that combines different types of treatments.
What kind of doctor treats leukemia?
In these situations, an adult may decide to work with a pediatric oncologist. A hematologist-oncologist diagnoses and treats blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
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 kind of cancer does a pediatric oncologist treat?
A gynecologic oncologist treats gynecologic cancers, such as uterine, ovarian, and cervical cancers. 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 ...
What is the difference between a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist?
A medical oncologist treats cancer using chemotherapy or other medications , such as targeted therapy or immunotherapy. A surgical oncologist removes the tumor and nearby tissue during surgery. He or she also performs certain types of biopsies to help diagnose cancer. A radiation oncologist treats cancer using radiation therapy.
What is a diagnostic radiologist?
A diagnostic radiologist conducts imaging tests to diagnose disease. This includes x-rays or ultrasound tests. An oncology nurse. An oncology social worker. The team may also involve doctors from other areas of medicine. For instance, a dermatologist who specializes in skin problems may also help treat skin cancer.
Can a dermatologist treat skin cancer?
For instance, a dermatologist who specializes in skin problems may also help treat skin cancer. Sometimes a person’s cancer diagnosis is complex. In this case, the patient’s oncologist may ask a tumor board to review the case.
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.
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 to look for in a cancer specialist?
Openness to your questions. This is one of the most important things to look for in a cancer specialist. You need to feel like your doctor is listening to you and answering your questions. Also, make sure your doctor will be available to you when you need to talk to them -- even after you leave the office.
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.
Who do you see for reconstructive surgery?
Sometimes, surgery might be done by a general surgeon instead of a surgical oncologist. Or you might need to see a plastic surgeon if you need reconstructive surgery after treatment. You might also wish to see a psychiatrist or a psycho-oncologist, a psychiatrist who specializes in the psychological challenges of coping with cancer.
Decide what you need and want in a doctor
First, you need to look for a doctor who treats your type of cancer. You may need a special type of oncologist or even more than one kind of oncologist for your treatment. The most common types of cancer doctors include:
Make a list of doctors who might be a good fit
Our worksheet called How to Choose a Cancer Doctor may be useful during this process. It includes tips on how to find names of cancer doctors and questions that can help decide who the best fit for you is.
Finding out more
Once you’ve found doctors that seem like a good fit for you, call their offices and ask if they’re on your health insurance plan and are taking new patients. You might also want to find out which cancer centers and hospitals they work in and where they can admit patients.
Other things you might want to know about a cancer doctor
Board certified doctors have had extra training in special areas, such as medical oncology (cancer care), hematology (diseases of the blood), or gynecologic surgery (female reproductive system). They have taken and passed certification tests approved by doctors in their field.
Second opinions
Even after you have chosen your doctor, you might want to get a second opinion. This is a good idea if you feel uncertain about the proposed treatment. For instance, if you have prostate cancer and a urologist has recommended surgery, you may want to see a radiation oncologist to learn about non-surgical treatment.
What is the name of the doctor who treats cancer?
They check your progress often, review your lab and X-ray results, and coordinate your medical care before and after your treatment. Surgical oncologist. A doctor who specializes in the surgical treatment of cancer. Surgical oncologists do biopsies and other procedures such as removing a lump or a breast.
What is a breast cancer specialist?
Breast Cancer Specialists. Medical oncologist. A doctor who specializes in the medical treatment of cancer. Medical oncologists have a thorough knowledge of how cancers behave and grow and how to use medication to treat them.
What is the role of a medical oncologist in breast cancer?
The medical oncologist manages your overall medical care for cancer and monitors your health during your treatment.
What are the health care professionals involved in breast cancer?
Other health care professionals that may be involved in your breast cancer treatment include: Oncology nurses who have special skills and pass a certifying test. Radiation technologist who helps put you in the correct treatment position and delivers the proper radiation dose to the site.
What is a breast surgeon?
Breast surgeon. A doctor who specializes in the surgical removal of breast tumors and lymph nodes while saving as much of the breast as possible.
What is a doctor who checks tissue samples under a microscope?
A doctor who checks tissue samples under a microscope. They decide whether cancer is present, its size, whether the surgery removed all the cancer, and how many lymph nodes have cancer, if any. Radiation oncologist. A doctor trained in treating cancer with radiation.
What kind of doctor does a biopsies?
These doctors may also do biopsies to diagnose or treat cancer. Plastic surgeon. A surgeon who specializes in breast reconstruction. Radiologist. A doctor trained in reading X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, and other forms of imaging that look into the body. Pathologist.
What is the difference between a dermatologist and a medical oncologist?
Dermatological oncologist This is an oncologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating skin cancer. Medical oncologist A physician who treats cancer with medication, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy. Radiation oncologist These doctors treat cancer with radiation therapy. Surgical oncologist An oncologist who removes skin ...
What is a Mohs surgeon?
A Mohs surgeon is a dermatologist who is trained to perform a special type of procedure called Mohs surgery. This technique involves removing thin pieces of skin and examining each of them under a microscope before another layer is removed until a layer of skin is reached in which there are no cancerous cells in evidence.
What is the role of a dermatologist?
Dermatologist. A dermatologist is a doctor who’s trained to diagnose and treat conditions that involve the skin, hair, and nails. This type of physician plays an important role in diagnosing skin cancer. Dermatologists perform full-body exams to spot unusual lesions on your body, and skin biopsy procedures to test for cancer.
What is the procedure for a dermatologist to check for cancer?
Dermatologists perform full-body exams to spot unusual lesions on your body, and skin biopsy procedures to test for cancer. If the results come back positive, your dermatologist will devise a treatment plan for you. Many low-grade skin cancers can be treated right in your dermatologist’s office. If the cancer is more advanced or requires ...
What doctor treats skin cancer?
Your primary care physician provides preventive care. Some are trained to recognize skin cancer. Often, your primary care doctor will refer you to a dermatologist if skin cancer is suspected.
What is the best doctor for skin cancer?
Oncologist . A medical oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer. You may need to see an oncologist if you have an advanced or high-risk type of skin cancer. There are different subtypes of oncologists, including: Dermatological oncologist This is an oncologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating skin cancer.
What is the role of a pathologist in biopsies?
Pathologist. This expert works behind the scenes examining samples of tissue or body fluids. When a dermatologist biopsies a lesion, the tissue sample is sent to a lab where a pathologist looks at it and writes a report to either confirm or rule out cancer, and, if it is cancerous, determine its type and stage.
