Medical Oncology

Who is a Medical Oncologist?

A medical oncologist is a healthcare expert who treats patients with treatments like chemotherapy. He/she along with other specialists like surgeons determines the medication plan, size, and location of the tumor for cancer treatment. A medical oncologist may seek advice from surgeons and radiation oncologists when any other treatment in addition to medication is required.

While developing the treatment plan, a medical oncologist reviews the patient's page, overall health, and previous cancer treatments to ensure the plan is optimized for the patient.

What Conditions do Medical Oncologists Treat?

Some of the conditions medical oncologists commonly treat include:

• Breast cancer: As the name conveys, breast cancer starts in the breast. It happens when cells start to develop and grow uncontrollably. It can form in one or both breasts. Medical oncologists may use hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy to treat this type of cancer.
• Lung cancer: It is a condition caused by the unrestricted division of cells in the lungs. Healthcare experts may use radiation, targeted drugs, and chemotherapy for its treatment.
• Colorectal cancer: The development of polyps (growths) in the inner lining of the colon (large intestine) can cause colorectal cancer. It can be treated using chemotherapy and targeted therapy.
• Prostate cancer: This cancer develops in the prostate. The prostate is a gland in males that forms a fluid that transports sperm. Prostate cancer can be treated using hormone therapy and chemotherapy.
• Blood cancers: Blood cancer majorly starts in the bone marrow, where blood cells are created. Some types of blood cancer include leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Medical oncologists may use treatment options like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy for treatment for such cancer.

This list is not all-inclusive, healthcare experts also provide treatment for other types of cancer such as ovarian cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and urologic cancers.

What Tests or Diagnostic Procedures are Done Under Medical Oncology?

Some of the tests conducted under medical oncology include:

• Tumor marker tests: These tests compute the substances that are produced by cancer cells in the body. A tumor marker test helps in knowing the presence and behavior of cancer. In these tests, the proteins and other substances that are produced in excessive amounts by cancer cells are evaluated by the doctors.
• Imaging tests: Doctors also use various imaging tests like MRI, PET, and CT scans to locate the tumor and assess whether it has reached other body parts.
• Urinalysis: This test tells the color of the urine and quantifies the contents present such as protein, sugar, and red blood cells. Urinalysis can help diagnose various cancers like urothelial, kidney, and bladder cancer.
• Complete blood count (CBC): CBA blood test helps diagnose cancers like leukemias. This test measures the amount of white blood cells, platelets, and red blood cells in the blood. It also measures the amount of hemoglobin ( a protein that carries oxygen) in the red blood cell.
• Lymph node biopsy: Cancer can spread through lymph nodes, therefore, in this case, a biopsy is generally performed to know the involvement. In this procedure, lymph node tissue is removed to examine it under a microscope. Lymph nodes are glands responsible for making white blood cells.

What are the Various Treatments Used By Medical Oncologists to Treat Cancer?

Medical oncologists use systemic therapies to treat cancer. Some of the therapies used in the treatment include the following:

• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells in the body. It works by preventing the cancer cells from developing and growing. The drugs used in chemotherapy can be given to the patient intravenously (through veins) or orally.
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is a systemic therapy that helps modify and boost the body's immune system to fight cancer. The immune system needs to be strong to destroy cancer cells. In immunotherapy, medical oncologists use drugs to fight infections and other medical conditions.
• Targeted therapy: Medical oncologists may use targeted therapy to treat cancer. This therapy utilizes drugs to recognize and destroy specific cancer cells. It can be used by itself or jointly with other treatment options like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy.
• Hormone therapy: Hormone therapy or hormonal therapy involves removing, blocking, or adding certain hormones in the body with the help of drugs. It helps in regulating hormones that can cause the growth of cancer.
• Radiation therapy (radiotherapy): Radiotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps destroy cancer cells using high-powered energy. Medical oncologists may use this therapy to treat different types of cancer and some non-cancerous diseases. This treatment helps damage the DNA within cancer cells and limits their potential to grow.