explain oncology in detail
Answers
A medical oncologist treats cancer using chemotherapy or other medications, such as targeted therapy or immunotherapy.
A surgical oncologist removes the tumor and nearby tissue during surgery. He or she also performs certain types of biopsies to help diagnose cancer.
A radiation oncologist treats cancer using radiation therapy.
Other types of oncologists include:
A gynecologic oncologist treats gynecologic cancers, such as uterine, ovarian, and cervical cancers.
A pediatric oncologist treats cancer in children. Some types of cancer occur most often in children and teenagers. This includes certain brain tumors, leukemia, osteosarcoma, and Ewing’s sarcoma. Types of cancer more common in children sometimes also occur in adults. In these situations, an adult may decide to work with a pediatric oncologist.
A hematologist-oncologist diagnoses and treats blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
The role of the oncologist
An oncologist manages a patient’s care throughout the course of the disease. This starts with the diagnosis. His or her role includes:
Explaining the cancer diagnosis and stage
Talking about all treatment options and his or her preferred choice
Delivering quality and compassionate care
Helping a patient manage the symptoms and side effects of cancer and cancer treatment.
Different types of doctors often work together to create a patient’s overall treatment plan that combines different types of treatments. For instance, a patient may need treatment with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. This is called a multidisciplinary team.
Cancer care teams also include a variety of other health care professionals:
A pathologist reads laboratory tests. This includes checking cells, tissues, and organs to diagnose disease
A diagnostic radiologist conducts imaging tests to diagnose disease. This includes x-rays or ultrasound tests.
Explanation:
Oncology
.The term oncology literally means a branch of science that deals with tumours and cancers. The word “onco” means bulk, mass, or tumor while “-logy” means study.
What is cancer?
Each of the cells of the body 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 out-of-control growth of abnormal cells.
How common is cancer?
Today, millions of people 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 US will develop cancer during their lifetimes.
How long has cancer existed for?
Some of the earliest evidence of cancer is found among fossilized bone tumors, human mummies in ancient Egypt, and ancient manuscripts. Abnormalities suggestive of the bone cancer called osteosarcoma have been seen in mummies.
Among manuscripts the first known description of cancer is seen in the Edwin Smith Papyrus and is a copy of part of an ancient Egyptian textbook on trauma surgery. It describes 8 cases of tumors or ulcers of the breast that were treated by cauterization with a tool called the fire drill. It dates back to about 3000 BC. The papyrus describes the condition as “incurable”.
Role of an oncologist
Medical professionals who practice oncology are called Cancer specialists or oncologists. These oncologists have several specific roles. They help in diagnosis of the cancer, help in staging the cancer and grading the aggressive nature of the cancer.
Oncology diagnostic tools
The most important diagnostic tool remains the clinical history of the patient. Common symptoms that point towards cancer include fatigue, weight loss, unexplained anemia, fever of unknown origin etc