Oncologist
Oncology is the study of cancerous tumors and hematologic malignancy. Oncologists are physicians who study,
diagnose, and
treat cancerous tumors (1). In most cases, when an individual is
diagnosed with
cancer, a clinical
oncologist takes charge of the patient's care and
treatment through all phases of the
disease (2).
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To become certified as an oncologist, a candidate must first graduate from an accredited medical school, and then enter into training as a specialist (e.g., internist, pediatrician, etc.) and subspecialist (e.g., medical oncologist, pediatric oncologist-hematologist, etc.). There are several oncology specialties and subspecialties, but
within the field of clinical oncology there are three main disciplines: medical oncology, surgical oncology, and radiation oncology. Medical oncologists specialize in treating cancer with medicine or chemotherapy; surgical oncologists specialize in the surgical aspects of cancer treatment, including biopsy, staging, and surgical removal of tumors; and radiation oncologists specialize in treating cancer with radiation. There are also pediatric oncologists and gynecologic oncologists, and these individuals may incorporate all three of the above specialties in their treatment (2).
Cancer is often treated by a multidisciplinary team of oncologists, as cancer treatment frequently involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The team also usually includes a pathologist, a diagnostic radiologist, and an oncology nurse. If the cancer is unusual or difficult to treat, a tumor board consisting of medical experts from all relevant disciplines may be called upon to review the case (2).