Oncology is the branch of medicine that deals with cancer research, diagnosis, treatment, and care. The phrase comes from the Greek word onkos, which means “mass” or “tumor,” and it shows that the focus is on malignant growths. Oncology includes a full range of patient care, from the first diagnosis to long-term follow-up.
What is Oncology and What Does it Cover?
Oncology requires specialist knowledge and skills to figure out what kind of cancer a person has, what kind of treatment they need, and how to keep caring for them. Oncology experts interact with nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and other healthcare providers to provide personalized cancer care that meets the requirements of each patient.
What an Oncologist Does?
An oncologist is a doctor who specializes in cancer care and is in charge of the patient’s treatment plan. Their duties include:
- Finding out if someone has cancer using a clinical evaluation and diagnostic tests
- Making and suggesting treatment plans based on evidence
- Giving or overseeing therapeutic interventions
- Keeping an eye on how patients respond to treatment and changing regimens as needed
- Working together to give care to different specialties
- Watching over patients after therapy and dealing with late consequences
- Taking part in clinical research to improve cancer care
Subfields of Oncology:
Oncology is further divided into subfields that deal with different parts of cancer treatment or groups of patients:
Specialties Based on Treatment:
- Surgical oncology is the branch of medicine that deals with removing tumors and malignant tissues through surgery, including diagnostic biopsies.
- Medical oncology gives systemic treatments such chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy.
- Radiation oncology uses radiation therapy to kill or shrink cancer cells.
Type of Cancer or Demographics of the Patient:
- Breast Oncology: Specialized treatment for breast cancer.
- Geriatric oncology is a type of cancer care that is specifically for people 65 and older.
- Gynecologic oncology is the branch of medicine that treats tumors of the female reproductive organs.
- Hematologic oncology takes care of blood cancers such leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
- Neuro-Onco: Deals with cancers that affect the brain and nerves.
- Pediatric onco is the study of cancer in kids and teens.
- Thoracic onco treats tumors that are in the chest, like lung and esophageal cancer.
- Urologic onco deals with tumors of the male reproductive and urinary systems.
When to See an Oncologist?
- When a cancer diagnosis is confirmed, it is normal to send the patient to an oncologist for treatment planning.
- Oncologists may be involved early in the process of diagnosing and staging cancer when it is suspected.
- After treatment, it’s vital to see an oncologist again to keep an eye on any relapses and deal with any problems that come up during treatment.
Oncology Care Team with Many Disciplines:
In addition to oncologists, many other healthcare specialists help in full cancer care:
- Oncology nurses give treatments and help in managing symptoms.
- Advanced practice providers, like nurse practitioners and physician assistants, help with clinical work.
- Genetic counselors look at the risks of getting cancer that runs in families.
- Social workers help people with their mental and social health.
- Patient navigators help plan how to get care.
- Onco drugs are what pharmacists do best.
- Dietitians help cancer patients make nutrition strategies that work for them.
- Radiologists and pathologists help with diagnosis and keeping an eye on treatment.
- Throughout the care continuum, mental health specialists help people feel better emotionally and mentally.
Oncology is a very important and changing area that aims to improve cancer outcomes through specialist medical knowledge, teamwork, and medicines based on research.