Oncology
The role of an oncologist
Medical professionals who specialize in caring for cancer patients are called oncologists. Their roles include cancer diagnosis, planning, and supervising treatment; monitoring the patient and the cancer during the treatment and follow-up; and participating in oncology research.
Oncologists subspecialize in particular modes of cancer therapy, such as surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists who use surgical medical (such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy) and radiation-based methods, respectively, to destroy cancer cells.1
Another way to classify oncologists by their role in cancer care is based on their area of specialization, such as breast or gynecologic cancer specialists, or by the age group they treat, such as pediatric oncologists and geriatric oncologists.
Common cancer symptoms include fatigue, unintentional weight loss, unexplained anemia, and fever of unknown origin.
Regular Oncology Checks Provided
Based on the tumor grade and stage, oncologists devise a treatment plan for each patient. This could involve surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Other modalities include hormonal therapy (as for prostate or breast cancer) and targeted therapy that zeroes in on cancer-specific changes.
Hyperthermia and photodynamic therapy, which make use of heat and light-activated cancer drugs, respectively, play a role sometimes, while stem cell transplants are essential to restore blood cell counts after high-dose chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
If the doctor who diagnosed a patient’s cancer is not an oncologist, that medical professional can provide references to doctors who specialize in treating cancer. Cancer is more common than many people realize, and friends or family members who have battled similar cancers can provide recommendations based on personal experiences. Insurance companies can offer information about doctors covered under a patient’s insurance plan, and searchable databases from medical organizations like the American Medical Association can provide a list of doctors who specialize in cancer treatment.
There are three general areas of specialization in cancer treatment: medical, surgical and radiation. The most common type of oncologist is a medical oncologist. This specialist uses drug combination as treatment (typically known as chemotherapy), immunotherapy and targeted therapy. Surgical oncologists are surgeons who specialize in removing tumors and any surrounding tissue affected by the cancer. Radiation oncologists use radiation therapy to treat more localized cancers.
While the oncologist is the focal point of contact for a cancer patient, they must rely on a team of staff members to provide quality care. This team can include other oncologists or specialized doctors, also called a multidisciplinary team, who work together to create the best course of action for each patient. Care teams can include these other members:
- Pathologists
- Oncology nurse
- Physical therapist
- Nutritionist
- Oncology social worker
Cancer treatment depends on a multitude of factors, including the type of cancer and factors related directly to the patient. In general, cancer can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of the three. In recent years, stem cell and bone marrow transplants have also been used in treatment.
The treatment type chosen varies from patient to patient. The patient’s overall health plays an important role as certain cancer treatments can carry a higher risk if administered to a patient who is already compromised. Patients also have the ability to make informed decisions about treatments based on the side effects, the probability of a cure, and the overall impact on quality of life.
A doctor’s decision about treatment can rely heavily on experience treating a specific type of cancer. However, a reputable doctor also uses current research for guidance. In the end, despite experience and research trends, the doctor’s choice comes down to the patient and their goals with treatment.
Cancer treatments vary, but the first goal is to find a doctor and team who can make a patient feel comfortable. By asking questions and doing research, patients can find the support needed for recovery.
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Not only is it important to have strong, healthy bones as we grow during our younger years, but also as we get older. There are various factors that can affect a person’s bone health, such as gender, exercise, body size, lifestyle choices, as well the amount of calcium present.
Humboldt Park Health understands that our patient’s bone health is important to their quality of life. As our patients age, their bones can weaken and make the patient more prone to fractures, which are harder to heal from at an older age. This safe, painless procedure uses small amounts of radiation to measure bone density. As with breast cancer, early detection is important in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
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