What is oncology?
Oncology is the study of cancer. An oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer and supplies medical care for a person diagnosed with cancer. An oncologist may also be called a cancer expert.
The field of oncology has three major areas based on treatments: medical oncology, radiation oncology, and surgical oncology.
- Medical oncologists treat cancer using medication, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy.
- Radiation oncologists treat cancer using radiation therapy, which uses high-energy x-rays or other particles to destroy cancer cells.
- Surgical oncologists treat cancer using surgery, including removing the tumor and nearby tissue during an operation. This type of surgeon can also perform certain types of biopsies to help diagnose cancer.
What is cancer?
Each body’s cells have a tightly regulated system that controls their growth, maturity, reproduction, and eventual death. Cancer begins when cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. There are many kinds of cancer, but they all start because of the out-of-control growth of irregular cells.
How common is cancer?
Today, millions of individuals are living with cancer or have had cancer. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. About one-half of all men and one-third of all women in the U.S. will be involved in cancer.
What is the role of the oncologist?
Medical specialists who practice oncology are called Cancer proficient or oncologists. These oncologists have several specific roles. They help in the diagnosis of cancer, help in staging cancer, and grading the aggressive nature of cancer.
An oncologist manages a patient’s care throughout the disease and starts with the diagnosis. Their role includes:
- Advising tests to decide whether a person has cancer
- Explaining a cancer diagnosis, including the type and stage of the cancer
- Talking about all treatment choices and your treatment option
- Delivering quality and compassionate care
- Helping you handle symptoms and side effects of cancer and its treatment
A person’s cancer cure plan may contain more than one type of treatment, such as surgery, cancer medications, and radiation therapy. That means various oncologists and health care providers collaborate to create a patient’s general treatment plan.
Cancer care teams often include a variety of other health care professionals, including pathologists, radiologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, oncology nurses, social workers, pharmacists, and more. Another article on this website will learn about these and other possible multidisciplinary team members. Doctors from different areas of medicine can also be part of this team. For example, a dermatologist, an expert in skin problems, may help treat skin cancer.
Oncology diagnostic tools
The most important diagnostic tool remains the clinical history of the patient. Common cancer symptoms include tiredness, weight loss, unexplained anemia, fever of unknown origin, etc.
Oncology depends on diagnostic tools like biopsy or removal of bits of the tumor tissue and examining it under the microscope. Other diagnostic tools include endoscopy for the gastrointestinal tract, imaging studies like X-rays, CT scanning, MRI scanning, ultrasound, and other radiological techniques, Scintigraphy, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, Positron emission tomography and nuclear medicine techniques, etc. Standard methods include blood tests for biological or tumor markers. The rise of these markers in the blood may be indicative of cancer.
Cancer therapy in iran
Based on the grade and stage of cancer, oncologists help plan the therapy suitable for each patient. This therapy could be by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other modalities. A massive amount of research is being conducted on all areas of oncology, ranging from cancer cell biology to chemotherapy treatment regimens and optimal palliative care and pain relief. This makes oncology a continually changing and developing field.
How Are Cancer Deaths Measured?
Professionals sometimes calculate cancer deaths as a simple count. But if you want to compare places or over time, it can help measure the cancer death rate.
The death rate is the number of deaths divided by the number of people. To find out how many die for every 100,000 people, you can multiply this number by 100,000.
The actual number of deaths can increase simultaneously while the death rate decreases. That’s what’s happening in the U.S. The number of deaths is going up as more people get older. But the cancer death rate for everyone in the country is going down.
How many people die of cancer a year?
Cancer is the second leading cause of death around the world. The only health condition that kills more people is heart disease.
In 2021 (the latest year for which there are global data), more than 10 million people died of cancer worldwide. That’s 1 out of every six deaths. Over 600,000 cancer deaths happen in the U.S. each year and about 80,000 in Canada. The rest happen in countries all around the world. About 7 out of every ten deaths from the disease occur in low- or middle-income countries.
Are Cancer Deaths Rising?
The short answer is yes and no. Experts expect the number of cancer deaths worldwide to keep going up. Estimates suggest that more than 16 million people will die of cancer by 2040. The reason is that there will be more people, and more of them will be older.
In some parts of the world, some parameters which play a role in certain cancers include:
- Smoking
- Poor diet
- Physical inactivity
- Fewer pregnancies
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When Are Patients Referred to an Oncologist?
An oncologist is a highly qualified physician to examine, diagnose, and treats an individual with cancer or presumed cancer. These doctors can treat cancer in different parts of the patient’s body. If you have cancer, an oncologist can make the treatment plan based on pathology reports. It will depend on your type of cancer, how much it has grown, and how quickly it is likely to spread. The parts of your body that are affected will also be considered.
First oncologist appointment
Cancer has a significant impact on society worldwide. Many people pass from different types of cancer every year. Cancer is known to be one of the foremost causes of death in the United States. But the good thing is that survival rates continue to enhance. This is attributed to advancements in cancer detection, treatment, and control. People with cancer usually work with a team of health care providers. Medical groups often contain oncologists, nurses, pathologists, and dietitians. All team fellows provide helpful services vital to the patient’s health.
Why patients be referred to an oncologist?
An individual often sees an oncologist when the primary care physician suspects the patient has cancer. A primary care physician may diagnose a patient with different diagnostic tests and procedures. CT scans, an MRI, and blood tests can be used to verify the diagnosis. If the tests show signs of cancer, the primary care doctor may advise that the patient visits an oncologist.
What to expect when meeting an oncologist?
The first oncology appointment may last for only a few hours. The oncologist will gather information about the patient’s health during the first appointment. The oncologist is still likely to complete a physical exam even if the primary care doctor performed one. Some additional tests may also be carried out.
During the appointment, the patient may meet other cancer care, team members. The patient may also meet people who will explain the insurance process and costs involved in treatment. It is not unusual for an oncologist to give the patient an essential prediction of how long it will take to recover. Patients are usually encouraged to ask questions.
Most people have many questions right up until they meet the doctor. Patients can then forget what they want to ask. It is beneficial for patients to know all about the disease and treatment plan. People should keep a pen and paper handy in the days leading to the appointment. They should write down all their questions.
What are the types of Oncologists?
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 named a cancer expert.
The field of oncology has three major areas based on treatments: medical oncology, radiation oncology, and surgical oncology.
- Medical oncologists treat cancer using medication, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy.
- Radiation oncologists treat cancer using radiation therapy, which uses high-energy x-rays or other particles to destroy cancer cells.
- Surgical oncologists treat cancer using surgery, including removing the tumor and nearby tissue during an operation. This type of surgeon can also perform certain types of biopsies to help diagnose cancer.
There are also medical terms for oncologists who specialize in caring for specific groups of patients or groups of cancers. Here are definitions for some common words.
- Geriatric oncologists work with people with cancer who are aged 65 and older. Older adults can have additional challenges. Geriatric oncologists specialize in providing the best care for older adults. Gynecologic oncologists treat cancers in such reproductive organs as the cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, vagina, and vulva.
- Hematologist-oncologists treat blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
- Neuro-oncologists treat cancers of the brain, spine, and nervous system.
- Pediatric oncologists treat cancer in children and teens. Some types of cancer occur most often in these younger age groups. When these types of cancer occasionally occur in grown-ups, those adult patients may choose to work with a pediatric oncologist.
- Thoracic oncologists treat cancers inside the chest, including the lungs and esophagus.
- Urologic oncologists treat cancers in the genitourinary system, such as the bladder, kidneys, penis, prostate gland, and testicles.
7 Comments
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Sahar
I wonder if it is possible to explain about different kinds of radiation?
sama rabiee
can you explaine more about Oncology?
smartbehan
Yes, my dear, with pleasure. Today we are talking about different types of oncology.