What Does Oncologist Mean in Medical Terms?

Meh-Dih-Kul on-Kah-Loh-Jist) A physician who has specialized training in diagnosing and treating adult cancer using chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy, and targeted therapy is known as a medical oncologist. This type of medication focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer. A medical oncologist's job is to provide care for cancer patients through the use of items such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy. An oncologist is a doctor who is highly trained to research, diagnose and treat a person with cancer or suspected cancer. These doctors can treat many different types of cancer in various parts of the patient's body.

If you have cancer, an oncologist can build your treatment plan based on pathology reports. It will depend on the type of cancer you have, how much the cancer has developed, and how quickly it is likely to spread. The parts of the body that are involved will also be considered. The term oncology literally means a branch of science that deals with tumors and cancers. The word “onco” means volume, mass or tumor, while “-logy” means study.

If you've been diagnosed with cancer, you've probably seen a doctor who specializes in oncology (also known as an oncologist).Depending on the grade and stage of the cancer, oncologists help plan the right therapy for each of their patients. Or call a trusted hospital to see which medical oncologists work there and who might be right for you. Patients are usually referred to oncologists after visiting a general practitioner or specialist who focuses on other areas of medicine. The oncologist is likely to perform a physical exam even if the primary care doctor has performed it. 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.

If the tests reveal signs of cancer, the primary care doctor may recommend that the patient visit an oncologist. If these doctors are unable to effectively treat a patient's symptoms or, based on the patient's personal history and lifestyle, suspect that cancer may be responsible for the patient's health problems, the patient will be referred to an oncologist for further testing. During the first appointment, the oncologist will spend time gathering information about the patient's health. Finally, they will be certified and licensed in the state where they want to practice medical oncology. Other diagnostic tools include endoscopy for the gastrointestinal tract, imaging studies such as x-rays, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound and other radiological techniques, scintigraphy, single-photon emission computed tomography, positron emission tomography and nuclear medicine techniques. In conclusion, an oncologist is a medical professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer.

They use various methods such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy to treat their patients. Oncologists are highly trained professionals who can build treatment plans based on pathology reports and other diagnostic tools.