Oncology is a medical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of all malignant tumors and cancers. Oncology is a broad term that encompasses a number of sub-specialties. Drugs, chemotherapy, and other related therapies, such as biological response modifiers and hormone therapies, are used to treat cancer in medical oncology.
An oncologist is a doctor who specializes in cancer treatment. These medical professionals are experts in cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment. Oncologists work in community and university hospitals and medical centers, private or group practices, and research organizations.
One must first graduate from an accredited medical school before entering the field of medical oncology. The physician must then enroll in an American Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited residency program to become board certified in oncology (ACGME). She must pass an exam after completing her graduate education in order to be awarded board certification in oncology.
The oncologist can then choose from a variety of oncology sub-specialties. Surgical, radiation, and medical oncology are the three main sub-categories of oncology. Gynecological oncology, medical oncology, pediatric oncology, and hematology — which treats cancers of the blood and related tissues — are some of the other sub-specialties.
When an oncologist chooses to specialize in medical oncology, she must complete additional education and training as well as pass an American Board of Internal Medicine certification exam (ABIM). Pharmacology, cancer biology, and clinical research methodology, as well as supportive care and ethics, are examples of primary content on which the candidate may be tested. Hematologic malignancies, as well as breast, gastroenterologic, thoracic, genitourinary, gynecological, and other solid tumors, are cancers with which the oncologist should be familiar.
Medical oncologist candidates may face a variety of topics on the exam, including general internal medicine as it relates to the practice of medical oncology. The diagnosis and staging of malignancies, including genetic markers, is another area that could be covered by the test. The exam may also cover treatment options such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapies, radiation therapy, and biological response modifiers.
After becoming certified and practicing, the medical oncologist’s primary focus will be on assisting the patient in managing his cancer through the use of medications. Chemotherapy is one of the most commonly prescribed therapies in the field of medical oncology. It is a drug regimen that uses chemicals to kill rapidly-growing, malignant cells in the body. Biological response modifiers, which are substances that stimulate the body’s natural response to diseases like cancer, are also commonly used in disease treatment. Hormone therapies may also be used to treat a variety of cancers.