Information on Oncology

Oncology is the medical study of cancer and oncologists are doctors specializing in the care of cancer patients. Oncologists diagnose cancer, provide cancer therapy and treat patients' symptoms.

Diagnosis

• Oncologists use a variety of diagnostic tools including biopsy, endoscopy, ultrasound, x-rays, blood tests, CT (computerized tomography) scans and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, according to the website The Medical News.

Therapy

• Oncological therapy depends on the type of cancer and may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or a combination of these. Some kinds of cancer, such as breast and prostate cancer, respond to hormone manipulation.

Treating Symptoms

• The oncologist is concerned with controlling a patient's symptoms--those caused by the disease and the symptoms, such as fatigue or nausea, that may occur as a result of cancer treatment.

Specialties

• Sub-fields of oncology include radiation oncology, which treats patients with radiotherapy; surgical oncology, concerned with surgical removal of cancer; and medical oncology, which treats cancer patients with drugs. Some doctors specialize in pediatric or gynecological oncology.

Ethics

• Ethical issues play a big role in the field of oncology. Oncologists are concerned with patient and family communication regarding cancer diagnosis and prognosis. They must also help make decisions about withdrawal of active treatment for terminally ill patients.