Explore
You might want to ask:
- When do I need to start treatment, and what are my treatment options?
- How long will treatment last?
- What are the risks and side effects of this treatment?
- How will treatment affect my daily life or routine?
What does oncology mean in medical terms?
- Explaining to the patient the cancer diagnosis and stage; describing where the cancer is located, if or where it has spread, and whether it is affecting other parts of the ...
- Discussing all treatment options and recommending the best course of treatment
- Delivering quality and compassionate care
What does an oncologist do?
- Communicating medical procedures to patients
- Preparing patients for examination
- Sterilization of medical equipment
- Assisting physicians
- Drawing blood and giving injections
- Performing lab and diagnostic tests
- Completing electrocardiograms (EKGs or ECGs)
- Changing dressing bandages and removing sutures
What role does a medical oncologist play?
Oncology clinical trials have evolved rapidly in terms of accessible clinical data, as well as a robust and growing pipeline of treatment candidates. Industry Definition and Major Segments Clinical trials are research studies designed to evaluate the ...
What is the definition of Oncology?
What do they treat in 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. The field of oncology has 3 major areas based on treatments: medical oncology, radiation oncology, and surgical oncology.
Why would you be referred to oncology?
Different cancers affect your body in different ways. Generally speaking, you might see an oncologist if you talk to your primary care physician about a change in your body and they recommend you have some preliminary tests. You likely will be referred to an oncologist if your tests indicate you have cancer.
Is oncology only cancer?
Oncologists can treat all types of cancer. Some oncologists specialize in delivering specific therapies, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or surgery. Other oncologists focus on treating organ-specific cancers, such as: bone cancers.
Is oncology the same as chemotherapy?
A medical oncologist will treat your cancer with chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy. A radiation oncologist will treat your cancer with radiation therapy. A surgical oncologist uses surgery to remove tumors.
Why would a doctor send you to an oncologist?
An oncologist is a physician who is highly trained to investigate, diagnose and treat an individual with cancer or suspected cancer. These doctors can treat many different types of cancer in various parts of the patient's body. If you have cancer, an oncologist can make the treatment plan based on pathology reports.
What happens on your first oncology visit?
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.
Can Stage 4 cancer be cured?
Stage 4 cancer usually can't be cured. In addition, because it will have spread throughout the body, it is unlikely it can be completely removed. The goal of treatment is to prolong survival and improve quality of life.
Does a blood test show cancer?
Samples taken for cancer blood tests are tested in a lab for signs of cancer. When viewed under a microscope, the samples may show the actual cancer cells. Other blood tests might find proteins or other substances made by the cancer. Blood tests can also tell your provider how well your organs are working.
Will a doctor tell you if they suspect cancer?
Doctors need the information about grade and stage to plan your treatment. It may take a few days before your doctor has the results of all the tests. They will then be able to tell you whether you have cancer, and talk with you about your treatment options.
How long after seeing oncologist will chemo start?
In some situations, your doctor may diagnose a new primary cancer instead of a recurrence. If so, you should wait no more than 2 months (62 days) to start treatment.
How many rounds of chemo is normal?
During a course of treatment, you usually have around 4 to 8 cycles of treatment. A cycle is the time between one round of treatment until the start of the next. After each round of treatment you have a break, to allow your body to recover.
What are oncology diseases?
Osteosarcoma. Ovarian cancer. Pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system.
Symptoms
- The symptoms of cancer can range from mild (or not present at all) to life-threatening. Some symptoms tend to be specific for certain cancers, whereas others may be present with many types of cancer.
Causes
- We have come a long way since Hippocrates first opposed superstitions surrounding cancer and attributed the disease, instead, to natural causes. At the time, however, it was thought to be due to an imbalance of blood, mucus, bile, and other body fluids.2 We now know that cancer arises (oncogenesis) after a series of mutations in a normal cell leads to the uncontrolled growth of a t…
Diagnosis, Staging, and Screening
- The diagnosis of cancer begins with a careful history and physical, including a family history of cancer.
Treatment
- The treatment of cancer has advanced tremendously over the last century, with new modalities being added frequently. One of the most important factors when talking about treatment is to look at the goal of treatment. In some cases, treatments are used in attempt to cure a cancer. In other cases, it's hoped that treatment will extend life. Sometimes, treatments may have little chance f…
A Word from Verywell
- Despite advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, there are many challenges that remain. Fortunately, a few advances not related to treatment are making life better for those who have had to face a diagnosis. One of these is the growth of psycho-oncology and recognizing that addressing the emotional and spiritual health of people with cancer is as important as treating p…