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 an oncologist called?
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. Medical oncologists treat cancer using medication, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.
Who are the professionals on a cancer care team?
Cancer care teams also include a variety of other health care professionals: A pathologist reads laboratory tests. This includes checking cells, tissues, and organs to diagnose disease A diagnostic radiologist conducts imaging tests to diagnose disease. This includes x-rays or ultrasound tests.
What kind of cancer does a hematologist-oncologist treat?
Hematologist-oncologists treat blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Neuro-oncologists treat cancers of the brain, spine, and nervous system.
What is the name of the team that treats cancer?
These professionals involved in a patient's cancer care make up the oncology team. This can also be called your cancer care team, health care team, or multidisciplinary care team.
What is an oncologist?
An oncologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer. Your oncologist oversees your care from diagnosis throughout the course of the disease. In cancer care, a patient is often treated by a team of oncologists who specialize in different areas of oncology and types of treatments. For instance, a medical oncologist uses ...
What is the difference between a medical oncologist and a surgical oncologist?
For instance, a medical oncologist uses medications to treat cancer, a radiation oncologist specializes in radiation therapy to treat cancer, and a surgical oncologist is a cancer surgeon. Learn more about the different types of oncologists.
What is genetic counseling?
Genetic counselors are health professionals who can help you understand cancer genetics, and your and your family's cancer risk. Genetic information may be an important factor in your cancer treatment planning. Learn more about what to expect when meeting with a genetic counselor. Pathologist.
What are mental health professionals?
These are professionals who have special training to provide counseling services and include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and licensed counselors. Learn more about counseling and mental health professionals in cancer care. Chaplain or spiritual support advisor.
What is palliative care specialist?
A palliative care specialist is especially helpful when a person is still experiencing pain and other symptoms despite treatment for these symptoms. Oncology social worker. An oncology social worker can help patients, families, and caregivers cope with cancer and the many challenges it brings.
What is the role of a pathologist?
Pathologist. A pathologist is a medical doctor who specializes in looking at cells, tissues, and organs to diagnose disease. You may or may not meet your pathologist in person, but your pathologist plays an important role in figuring out the type of cancer you have.
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 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 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.
How Are Tumors Diagnosed?
Benign tumors need an early diagnosis to identify its nature and prepare for necessary operations before it becomes cancerous and harms other parts of the body.
Procedures And Treatments For Tumors: Tumor Ablation
Tumor ablation is an image-guided technique where tumors are destroyed with the use of extreme heating or cooling.
Trust Our Physicians To Provide Effective Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment
Here at VISP, our vascular specialists and interventional radiologists are more than capable of performing minimally-invasive procedures to diagnose and treat tumors effectively.
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.
