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What is a Neurologist's Role in Cancer Treatment?

Treating cancer has traditionally been the role of an oncologist, a doctor who specializes in cancer. Although rare, neurologists can play a role in cancer treatment.

  1. Function

    • Traditionally, a neurologist's role is to diagnose and treat illnesses that affect the brain and nervous system.

    Significance

    • Neurologists specialize in using medication to treat neuropathic, non-cancer pain. This knowledge can also be helpful for people suffering intense pain caused by their cancer. According to the Psychiatric Times, 70 percent of people with terrible cancer pain can be treated with the type of drugs neurologists specialize in.

    Benefits

    • Neurologists are also very familiar with drugs that treat depression, anxiety and sleep issues. Since many cancer patients suffer from these problems, bringing in a neurologist to assist with drug choices is beneficial.

    Therapy

    • Neurologists are also familiar with the opiod family of drugs, which, when combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can help relieve pain in cancer.

    Expert Insight

    • According to Dr. Neil Slatkin, neurologists are important in the treatment of cancer because once a person is diagnosed with the disease, his doctors assume all his pain comes from the malignancy. Slatkin argues that a neurologist can help rule out or discover other reasons for the pain.

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