Oncology doctors are medical professionals who focus the majority of their energy on cancer. These sorts of professionals can do a number of different things and can have very different job descriptions depending on their specialties, interests, and training. Most work with a specific type of cancer, and may even focus on treating certain ages of people. Some work directly with patients undergoing treatments and spend most of their time designing drug regimens and plans for fighting the illness; others are more involved on the post-cancer side, guiding patients through remission and managing care to watch for recurrences. Professionals in this discipline may also be involved in research, usually developing new treatments or evaluating new drugs. No matter the day-to-day specifics, though, people in this field usually have the same core training and the same ultimate goal of fighting and, ultimately, curing cancer.
Understanding the Specialty as a Whole
Oncology is the study and treatment of cancer and tumors in various parts of the body. It is the oncologist's job to diagnose and treat cancer, and to work alongside other medical professionals or oncologists in choosing the best treatments. There are many different sorts of cancers that affect both people and animals, and a lot of what a person with this sort of training does is determined by specialty.
Specializations and Focus Areas
Most oncologists focus on a specific type of cancer or, alternatively, a specific subset of cancers. Some deal primarily with leukemia and lymphoma, for instances, two cancers of the blood. Others might focus on lung cancer, brain cancer, or digestive cancers; alternatively, they could specialize in pediatrics, which includes care of any cancer that occurs in children, or in cancers specific to either men or women. Oncology surgeons usually focus on the surgical removal or tumors and infected tissues.
It is possible for an oncology doctor to specialize in more than one sector of oncology and cancer treatment. For instance, many oncologists can treat patients using both chemotherapy and radiation, due to specialized training in both methods. In some instances, oncology specialists will also partake in additional studies to learn alternative treatments to cancer to use in conjunction with more conventional methods. These oncology doctors may undergo training in ozone therapy, UV therapy, radio therapy, and nutrition.
Direct Care
No matter his or her specialty, the majority of most oncologists’ time is spent directly caring for patients. They usually receive referrals from other, typically more general, doctors when cancer is suspected, then confirm and give a more detailed diagnosis. From there, they work with the patient and possibly also the patient’s family to devise a treatment plan. This frequently involves coordination with many different medical professionals, and may also require a lot of paperwork and insurance filings.
Recommendations for Prevention and Remission
In order for patients to stay healthy, it is also very helpful for oncology specialists to know and teach preventive measures that can be taken against cancer. This may include diet and exercise, as well as other precautions. This is especially important for patients who are recently recovered from cancer and those who are at high risk for developing the disease in the future.
Research Angles
It’s also usually possible for people with oncology training to work in more research-based jobs. These doctors still usually maintain their medical licensing, but typically spend more time in labs and running clinical studies than treating patients directly. Their work is very important to things like drug development and new care standards, and can influence the quality of treatments and the success rates of standard procedures.
Licensing and Other Professional Requirements
Like most medical professionals, oncologists typically have to spend a lot of time staying current in their field. Much of this is dependent on government licensing and continuing education requirements. Graduating from a medical degree program and completing regional requirements for an oncology specialty is almost always the first step, but it is rarely ever the last. Most jurisdictions also impose a number of requirements that oncologists and others must fulfill in order to remain current and in “good standing.”
The reasoning here is usually two-fold. Governments want to be sure that doctors stay on top of the latest trends in order to provide good care, and incentivizing continued learning can also lead to new breakthroughs and, often, lower patient costs. As advances in cancer treatment and detection become available, oncology doctors must remember to participate in continued education via seminars, classes, or networking with colleagues and researchers. This will help them to stay up to date in the best treatment options for every patient.