Cancer is a serious illness that requires specialized treatment. Depending on the type and stage of cancer, a patient may need to see different types of oncologists. A medical oncologist will treat cancer with chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy. A radiation oncologist will treat cancer with radiation therapy.
The surgical oncologist uses surgery to remove tumors. Surgical oncologists are medical professionals who specialize in treating cancer through surgery. This includes removing the tumor and nearby tissue during an operation. They can also perform certain types of biopsies to help diagnose cancer.
If a biopsy reveals cancer cells in the tissue sample, the surgical oncologist can remove the tumor and surrounding tissues. Radiation oncologists are medical professionals who specialize in using radiation to treat cancer. Last but not least, a medical oncologist treats cancer with medications such as immunotherapy or chemotherapy. When a patient is dealing with cancer, several doctors work as a team to determine the best course of treatment.
These teams are often made up of medical professionals from all areas who work together to provide the best solution for the patient. If you want to be a surgical oncologist, you will need additional training to become a general surgeon first. Gynecological oncologists, for example, are trained to treat cancers of the female reproductive system, such as those affecting the uterus, cervix, or ovaries, while hematology oncologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the blood (leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma). You'll need to complete a residency, train as an internist, and then complete an internal medicine residency. In general terms, you may see an oncologist if you talk to your primary care doctor about a change in your body and they recommend that you have some preliminary tests. There are also medical terms for oncologists who specialize in caring for specific groups of patients or groups of cancer.
Radiation oncologists specialize in giving external and internal radiation therapy to cancer patients. As mentioned above, oncologists specialize in administering specific therapies, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or surgery.
