Treatment FAQ

an oncologist specializes in the study and treatment of what?

by Bonita White Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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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. The field of oncology has 3 major areas based on treatments: medical oncology, radiation oncology, and surgical oncology.

What is an oncologist called?

An oncologist is a healthcare provider who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer. They’ll diagnose your cancer and identify treatment options. They’ll discuss each option’s benefits and side effects. They also oversee your treatment and manage your post-treatment care. Cancer Answer Line 866.223.8100 Appointments & Locations

What is oncology and how is it studied?

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 …

What does an oncologist do in a cancer screening?

Radiation oncologist. This cancer specialist treats cancer with radiation therapy. Surgical oncologist. This is a surgeon who has special training in treating cancer. Your surgical …

What is the difference between a medical oncologist and Surgical Oncology?

specialist in the treatment of diseases of connective tissues, especially the joints rheumatology branch of medicine dealing with inflammation, degeneration, or chemical changes in …

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What is Oncology The study of?

A branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

What type of cancer do oncologist treat?

Other oncology specialists focus on treating cancer in specific areas of the body. For example, gynecologic oncologists treat uterine, ovarian, and cervical cancers, while a hematologist-oncologist focuses on blood cancers. There are also pediatric oncologists who specialize in cancers common in children and teenagers.Jun 25, 2021

Who specializes in treatment of tumors?

Oncologist: A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer.Aug 7, 2019

What does oncology treat?

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. The field of oncology has 3 major areas based on treatments: medical oncology, radiation oncology, and surgical oncology.

What is the term for a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with radiation therapies quizlet?

The radiation oncologist is a highly trained doctor who specializes in treating cancer with radiotherapy. The oncologist evaluates the patient, identifies the treatment and determines the appropriate therapy and radiation dose.

Is a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders?

Hematology is the study of blood and blood disorders. Hematologists and hematopathologists are highly trained healthcare providers who specialize in diseases of the blood and blood components. These include blood and bone marrow cells.

What is oncology Hematology?

April 23, 2021. Hematology Oncology specialists, also called Heme/Onc. doctors, specialize in treating, screening, and preventing disorders of the blood such as anemia, sickle cell disease, bleeding disorders, hemophilia as well as different types of Cancer including Leukemia and Lymphoma.Apr 23, 2021

What is an oncology surgeon?

Surgical oncologists are general surgeons with specialty training in procedures for diagnosing, staging (determining the stage of cancer), or removing cancerous growths. The most common procedures performed by surgical oncologists are biopsies and surgery for cancerous growth removal.Jul 1, 2021

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 is the job of a surgical oncologist?

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. A gynecologic oncologist treats gynecologic cancers, such as uterine, ovarian, and cervical cancers.

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.

What type of cancer is most common 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 multidisciplinary team?

Different types of doctors often work together to create a patient’s overall treatment plan that combines different types of treatments. For instance, a patient may need treatment with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. This is called a multidisciplinary team.

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 is the specialty of a medical oncologist?

Medical oncologists specialize in the administration of drugs to kill cancer cells. Surgical oncologists, as the name implies, perform surgical procedures to identify and remove cancerous tumors. Radiation oncologists treat cancer with radiation therapy. In modern cancer therapy, the different kinds of oncologists work together, ...

What is the field of oncology?

Oncologists treat cancer and provide medical care for people diagnosed with cancer. They accompany their patients from diagnosis through treatment, and through recovery, relapse, remission, or palliative care. The field of oncology has three major areas: medical, surgical, and radiation. Medical oncologists treat cancer using chemotherapy ...

What is the name of the doctor who treats cancer?

An oncologist, sometimes called a cancer specialist, is a physician or surgeon who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, the disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part or parts of the body. The three primary types of cancer physicians are medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, ...

What is the primary care physician for cancer patients?

For many patients, their medical oncologist acts as their primary care physician during cancer treatment. It is often the medical oncologist who coordinates the care and treatment provided by other doctors and specialists. These physicians also manage the symptoms of cancer and the side effects caused by treatments.

What is the job of a surgical oncologist?

Surgical oncologists are the physicians who diagnose and treat cancer with surgical procedures. Their work includes performing biopsies that allow them to examine removed tissue and determine the presence, cause, or extent of a patient’s cancer.

What is radiation oncology?

While radiation oncologists are focused on the use of radiation in cancer treatment, it is important to note that they are oncologists first, and must understand cancer as a disease, its biology, and its patterns of spread. Other types of oncologists are:

What is a gynecologic oncologist?

Gynecologic oncologists focus primarily on the care and treatment of women with ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers. In some cases, they also assume the roles of medical and surgical oncologists, in that they design chemotherapy protocols and perform surgeries to treat these cancers.

What is an oncologist?

Concentrations. Procedural Expertise. Subspecialties. Training and Certification. Oncologists are physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. There are three main types of oncologists: 1. Medical oncologists who treat cancer with chemotherapy and other medications.

What is a radiation oncologist?

Radiation oncologists who treat cancer with radiation. These specialists work as part of a multidisciplinary team which may include a pathologist, radiologist, primary care physician, geneticist, palliative care specialist, oncology nurse, and organ-specific oncologists.

What is the residency for a medical oncologist?

Medical oncologists are licensed to practice after completing a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in oncology. Surgical oncologists undergo a residency in general surgery before specializing in oncology. In addition to these specialties, there are no less than 15 other major oncology subspecialties.

How is cancer stage determined?

This will be followed by cancer staging using imaging studies, lab tests, and other procedures. Cancer stage is determined by six factors: 2. The tumor location. The type of cancer cell (such as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma) The size of the tumor. Whether cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.

What is the grade of a tumor?

The grade of the tumor (a classification of how likely a tumor will grow based on the cell characteristics) In addition to helping direct the treatment plan, cancer staging can predict survival times and the likely outcomes based on experience in the general population.

How often do oncologists do a routine test?

In addition to treatment, oncologists are trained to manage complications that commonly arise during and after therapy. After the completion of therapy, routine tests will be scheduled to evaluate the response. Even if the cancer is brought into remission, tests may be scheduled every three to six months for two to three years.

What are the tools used to diagnose cancer?

Diagnosis. The tools used to diagnose cancer are extensive and involve lab tests, imaging studies , and other invasive or non-invasive procedures. Among them: 5. Physical examinations are used to evaluate lumps, masses, lesions, or changes in skin color indicative of cancer.

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.

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 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 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.

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 a board certified doctor?

Board certification. Board-certified doctors are trained in a specific area of medicine and must pass an exam testing their knowledge and skill. So if your doctor is board-certified -- in medical oncology or surgery, for instance -- you can be confident that they are highly qualified in that field.

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Concentrations

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Most people are referred to an oncologist if cancer is suspected or confirmed by a primary care doctor or other specialists. The oncologist will begin the investigation by performing additional tests to either confirm the diagnosis or characterize the malignancy. This will be followed by cancer stagingusing imaging studies, lab tes…
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Procedural Expertise

  • An oncologist manages a patient’s care throughout the course of the disease. This starts with the diagnosis and staging. Treatment is based on the results, with follow-ups scheduled to monitor response, identify relapse, or direct palliative care.
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Subspecialties

  • There are numerous subspecialties an oncologist can pursue with additional fellowship training. These include: 1. Breast oncology(cancers of the breast) 2. Bone and musculoskeletal oncology(cancers of bones and soft tissue) 3. Gastrointestinal oncology(cancers of stomach, colon, rectum, anus, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas) 4. Genitourinary oncology(cancers of the g…
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Training and Certification

  • There are two similar but distinct education pathways to becoming an oncologist. They both start with obtaining a bachelor's degree in an accredited college or university and taking the Medical Competency Aptitude Test (MCAT). Based on your MCAT results, as well as a review of your transcripts, grade point average, and prerequisite coursework, you would enroll in and begin me…
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Appointment Tips

  • If you are diagnosed with cancer, you will need to choose an oncologist with whom you can work over the long term. In many cases, it helps to find an oncologist who specializes in your type of cancer.
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A Word from Verywell

  • Oncology can be a rewarding and exciting career, with rapid advances in treatment options and the overall understanding of cancer. It can also be an extremely stressful profession. In addition to the long hours, an oncologist is responsible for the treatment of a disease that has no set course and is frightening to most people. It takes a special person to become an oncologist, on…
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