What do oncologist do

The three primary types of cancer physicians are medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, and radiation oncologists. 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, in collaboration with the larger medical community, including pathologists , oncology and other specialty nurses , and lab technicians. 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. Medical oncologists treat cancer using chemotherapy or other medications, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

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.

In cases of incurable cancer, the medical oncologist finds palliative or hospice care for the patient. In short, the primary job of a medical oncologist is managing cancer. Surgical oncologists are the physicians who diagnose and treat cancer with surgical procedures.

Radiation oncologists specialize in treating cancer with radiation therapy or the use of high energy x-rays or other particles to kill cancer cells.

Planning, also known as mapping , is an integral part of the work of radiation oncologists. Radiation oncology is an increasingly popular specialty. With rising cancer rates and significant advances in medical technology, the field offers extensive opportunities for research and for entry into practice. 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.

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. Pediatric oncologists specialize in the treatment of children and adolescents newborns to year-olds with cancer.

Questions to ask about your health care team How many oncologists will be part of my cancer treatment team? If there is more than 1 doctor on my team, which doctor will lead my overall care? How will each type of recommended cancer treatment help me?

Will my case be reviewed by a tumor board? When do I need to make a decision about my treatment planning? How often will I need to see each doctor during the treatment period? After treatment? What other types of health care providers will be part of my cancer care team?

If I experience a new side effect or a change in how I'm feeling, who should I tell? What is the best way to get in touch with my cancer care team in an emergency? Who can help me cope with the stress and emotions of cancer? Navigating Cancer Care. More in this section Cancer Basics What is Cancer? Net Videos. Find a Cancer Doctor. Learn more. Read more on Cancer Council Australia website. Radiation therapists are the people patients see on a daily basis who deliver the radiation treatment.

The Campaign aims to increase awareness of radiation therapy as an effective, safe and sophisticated treatment for cancer. The incidence of cancer is rising and co-ordination of care is essential.

This page provides information on radiation therapy for health professionals. Palliative care has been defined in a number of ways. How do we determine which new anticancer drugs are cost-effective and how do we pay for the ones that are?

Read more on Australian Prescriber website. The treatment and outcomes for people with metastatic melanoma have changed considerably in the past few years with the introduction of targeted anticancer Read more on Australasian Menopause Society website. Opioids have a critical, time-limited role in our management of acute and terminal pain and an open-ended role in our management of opioid dependency.

They also have a use in the management of chronic non-cancer pain. Healthdirect Australia is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering. There is a total of 5 error s on this form, details are below. Please enter your name Please enter your email Your email is invalid. Please check and try again Please enter recipient's email Recipient's email is invalid.

Please check and try again Agree to Terms required. Thank you for sharing our content. A message has been sent to your recipient's email address with a link to the content webpage. Medical oncologists coordinate cancer treatment plans and closely monitor their patients for side effects. They also provide follow-up care for patients after they complete their treatment. Patients with suspected cancer will see a surgical oncologist first. After a primary care physician finds evidence of cancer, they will refer the person to an oncologist for further evaluation.

Surgical oncologists perform biopsies, where small samples of abnormal tissue are removed and examined for cancer cells. This allows surgical oncologists to diagnose cancer types and stages. If a biopsy reveals cancer cells in the tissue sample, a surgical oncologist can remove the tumor and surrounding tissues.

Radiation oncologists specialize in delivering both external and internal radiation therapy to patients with cancer. External radiation therapy uses high-energy photon beams to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells. Internal radiation therapy is a treatment that involves internalizing a radioactive material by swallowing, injecting, or implanting.

An example of such a material is radioactive iodine. A person may receive one treatment on its own or in combination with another type of cancer treatment, depending on their individual circumstances. For instance, they may receive radiation therapy to shrink a tumor before undergoing surgery to remove it.

There are also oncologists who specialize in the following areas:. Oncologists can treat all types of cancer.