Oncologists routinely consult with their hospital patients on a daily basis and may even see them up to 2 times a day. These patients will be managed until the specialist deems them fit to be discharged home, or to be referred to facilities such as step-down hospitals for further management or to hospice facilities for palliative care.
Full Answer
What happens at my first meeting with an oncologist?
You will meet with an oncologist — a doctor focused on the study, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The oncologist will help you overcome the effects of the condition and live a normal life. It is helpful to be ready for your initial meeting and what will occur in the coming weeks of your treatment.
How do I plan and schedule cancer care and treatments?
To plan and schedule cancer care and treatments, a lot of information must first be collected. This information often needs to be shared with different specialists, as well as with patients and their caregivers, to help decide what treatment option is best. Once a treatment is decided on, care can be customized for a patient's situation.
What can I expect at a radiation oncologist appointment?
Meeting with your radiation oncologist. The doctor will review your medical records, perform a physical exam, and recommend tests. You will also learn about the potential risks and benefits of radiation therapy.
What is included in a treatment schedule?
A treatment schedule includes: The type of treatment that will be given, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, etc. How treatment will be given, such as how radiation will be delivered, or if a treatment drug will be given by mouth, injection, or infusion.
How long is oncology treatment?
Most chemotherapy treatments are given in repeating cycles. The length of a cycle depends on the drug(s) you receive. Most cycles range from 2 to 6 weeks. The number of treatment doses scheduled within each cycle also depends on the prescribed chemotherapy.
What is the average treatment time for cancer?
A course of chemotherapy usually takes between 3 to 6 months, although it can be more or less than that. The treatment will include one or more chemotherapy drugs. You may have the chemotherapy into a vein (intravenous drugs), or as tablets or capsules.
How many times a week are chemo treatments?
You can have chemotherapy once a week or for several days, then rest for several days or weeks. The breaks give the drugs time to do their job. Rest also gives your body time to heal so you can handle side effects like nausea, hair loss, or fatigue. Each set of doses is called a cycle.
How long after cancer diagnosis do you start treatment?
Cancer treatment should start very soon after diagnosis, but for most cancers, it won't hurt to wait a few weeks to begin treatment. This gives the person with cancer time to talk about all their treatment options with the cancer care team, family, and friends, and then decide what's best for them.
How long is a chemo treatment session?
Chemotherapy treatment varies in length and frequency and depends on the individual treatment plan prescribed by your doctor. Some last as long as three or four hours, while others may only take a half-hour.
How long is chemotherapy per session?
The length of time for chemotherapy regimens can range from 5 minutes to 8 or more hours. It all depends on the chemotherapy. Throughout the chemotherapy, your nurse will come in and check your vitals and make sure you aren't reacting to the medications.
Why do oncologists push chemo?
An oncologist may recommend chemotherapy before and/or after another treatment. For example, in a patient with breast cancer, chemotherapy may be used before surgery, to try to shrink the tumor. The same patient may benefit from chemotherapy after surgery to try to destroy remaining cancer cells.
What is a 21 day chemo cycle?
Your course of chemotherapy You usually have a course of several cycles of treatment over a few months. Each cycle of TC takes 21 days (3 weeks). On the first day of each cycle, you will have docetaxel and cyclophosphamide. You will then have no chemotherapy for the next 20 days.
How long after your first chemo treatment do you get sick?
Acute nausea and vomiting usually happens within minutes to hours after treatment is given, and usually within the first 24 hours. This is more common when treatment is given by IV infusion or when taken by mouth.
What happens at your first oncology appointment?
At the first appointment, the oncologist will talk about treatment options. The doctor will explain which ones are available, how effective they are and what the side effects may be. Then the oncologist will recommend a course and talk about when the treatments should take place.
How fast do cancer stages progress?
Scientists have found that for most breast and bowel cancers, the tumours begin to grow around ten years before they're detected. And for prostate cancer, tumours can be many decades old. “They've estimated that one tumour was 40 years old. Sometimes the growth can be really slow,” says Graham.
When does an oncologist get involved?
Takeaway. You will likely be referred to an oncologist if your doctor suspects that you have the disease. Your primary care physician may carry out tests to determine if you might have cancer. If there are any signs of cancer, your doctor may recommend visiting an oncologist as soon as possible.
Monday
Usually the week starts by dealing with administrative duties such as confirming meetings with medical representatives, hospital staff and management as well as non-clinical issues.
Tuesday
Blood tests, imaging reports and biopsy results are reviewed and the oncologist will then follow up with patients and discuss the findings of these tests. The patients may also have to be referred for trauma counseling as the diagnosis of cancer, especially of an aggressive type that gives a poor prognosis, can be difficult to deal with.
Wednesday
The oncologist will be meeting with specialists from other medical and surgical disciplines such as gynaecology, urology, general surgery, gastroenterology, dermatology, etc. to discuss treatment plans for patients who have cancers in the areas of the body relating to the mentioned disciplines.
Thursday
Oncologists will use this day to manage patients who need administration of intravenous chemotherapeutic drugs for their specific cancers. These drugs need to be prepared by the specialists in a specific way as they will need to work in fume cupboards and have to use protective clothes and equipment to prevent injury.
Friday
This day is used to consult and manage patients and to finish up any pending administrative issues. Once everything has been finalised, the specialist can end their work week.
How long does it take to become an oncologist?
A doctor wanting to specialise in oncology must first complete their undergraduate training, in order to become a qualified medical doctor, which takes 5-6 years to complete depending on which country you are studying in. A further 1-2 years needs to be spent training during an internship phase that needs to be completed in order to be allowed to specialise further.
What is an oncologist?
An oncologist is a medical specialist who is involved with seeing patients who are diagnosed with cancers. There are many sub-specialties in oncology since every organ system in the body is susceptible to the growth of cancer cells.
How long did you wait the oncologist appointment
So on Thursday it was confirmed that I have inflammatory breast cancer, I'm provisionally stage 3c, it's spread to my lymph nodes. I'm 36.
How long did you wait the oncologist appointment
I've a broadly similar diagnosis to you. I was seen in the BC clinic for initial mammo, ultrasound and biopsies on the Friday, MRI following Tues, results Weds and saw the onc the following Weds so a week and half following initial scans and one week after official results.
What happens during the waiting period for cancer?
During this waiting period, the cancer can progress, and early treatment options are missed entirely. Getting immediate access to proper tests and treatments is critical to optimizing your treatment outcome: the speed with which your treatment team acts can literally be the difference between life and death.
How long does it take to get cervical cancer surgery in Thailand?
Studies show that "in Thailand, at a single center, wait times exceeding 8 weeks for surgery in early stage cervical cancer care leads to worse outcomes.". Studies conducted in the US confirm that the health care system’s inability to deal with the number of cancer patients is a result of a lack of resources.
Is wait time for cancer treatment increasing?
Studies show that wait times in standard cancer care are a problem all around the world, with lengths generally continuing to increase. As such, the United States, Canada, and Europe are being confronted with the consequences – and recognizing that in order to decrease wait times, an increase in resources (time and budget) is vital.
Is wait time for cancer worse in the UK?
Wait times for cancer treatment in UK. While wait times are typically worse in the United States than in the UK, the UK also struggles to meet the growing demand for cancer tests and treatments.
Is time important for cancer treatment?
The faster you get a precise diagnosis and treatment, the better your chances are of having a successful treatment outcome. And there’s no doubt that one of the biggest obstacles in standard cancer treatment today is the time it takes for patients to get proper tests and treatments.
What is the role of an oncologist in a patient's care?
The oncologist is concerned about the patient’s welfare and wants the person to feel comfortable. The doctor will go over the patient’s concerns and answer any questions the patient may have about the impending treatment and procedures. The two will have a conversation about the patient’s goals and needs. They will also discuss any anxiety and fears the person may have. It may also be helpful for the oncologist to know the patient’s hobbies, interests, work and family.
What is the job of an oncologist?
The oncologist will work closely with nurses, radiologists, surgeons and other doctors. Ultimately, the oncologist wants to provide patients with the right resources and treatments to conquer the illness and enjoy a successful recovery. The oncologist will follow up regularly with the patient leading up to the surgeries and other procedures.
What is the first step in a patient's first consultation?
When a patient comes in for the first consultation, the oncologist will conduct a thorough examination. The oncologist will ask questions and review the patient’s health history. This will include an assessment of the scans and tests the person may have had beforehand. The oncologist can then formulate a treatment strategy that makes the most sense to the patient.
What is the best doctor for cancer?
You will meet with an oncologist — a doctor focused on the study, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The oncologist will help you overcome the effects of the condition and live a normal life. It is helpful to be ready for your initial meeting and what will occur in the coming weeks of your treatment.
What is the term for the treatment of cancer?
The term oncology refers to a branch in medicine that focuses primarily on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Cancer is a disease that leads to the development of abnormal cells that multiply uncontrollably and destroy healthy tissues. Cancers typically have the ability to spread to other parts of an inflicted person's body.It is…
Is cancer treatment easy?
Knowing that you need a cancer center treatment is not an easy thing to accept. This kind of diagnosis often causes overwhelming feelings and thoughts. The overload of information can be scary. Because of the complex situation, most cancer patients need guidance.
How often should you check for radiation?
During your treatment, your radiation oncologist will check how well it is working. Typically, this will happen at least once a week. If needed, they may adjust your treatment plan.
What to expect when getting radiation therapy?
What to Expect When Having Radiation Therapy. It is normal to feel worried or overwhelmed when you learn that you will need radiation therapy. However, learning more about this type of cancer treatment may help you feel more prepared and comfortable.
What type of doctor is responsible for radiation therapy?
Radiation oncologist. This type of doctor specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer. A radiation oncologist oversees radiation therapy treatments. They work closely with other team members to develop the treatment plan. Radiation oncology nurse.
What is simulation in radiation therapy?
Simulating and planning treatment. Your first radiation therapy session is a simulation. This means it is a practice run without giving radiation therapy. Your team will use imaging scans to identify the tumor location.
How long does radiation therapy last?
It is the most common radiation therapy treatment for cancer. Each session is quick, lasting about 15 minutes. Radiation does not hurt, sting, or burn when it enters the body.
Why is it important to be in the same position for radiation?
It is important for your body to be in the same position for each treatment. Your radiation oncology team cares about your comfort. Talk with the team to find a comfortable position that you can be in every time you come in for radiation therapy.
What is informed consent for radiation?
Giving permission for radiation therapy. If you choose to receive radiation therapy, your health care team will ask you to sign an "informed consent" form. Signing the document means: Your team gave you information about your treatment options. You choose to have radiation therapy.