Medical Oncology
What is a Medical Oncologist?
Oncology is the study of cancer. A medical oncologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer using hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, biological therapy, and chemotherapy. A medical oncologist is often the primary care physician for a patient with cancer. The role of the medical oncologist may include supervising the care of other specialists in addition to providing supportive care.
Radiation oncology and surgical oncology are the other two main subfields that make up clinical oncology.
- A surgical oncologist is a specialist in the surgical treatment of cancer. This includes performing biopsy procedures, which involve removing a small sample of tissue for microscopic examination, as well as surgically excising the cancer along with surrounding tissue and occasionally neighboring lymph nodes (which are tiny, bean-shaped organs that aid in the fight against disease).
- Radiation therapy, which uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells, is the primary treatment used by radiation oncologists.
Medical Oncology Treatment Options
The team could occasionally suggest medication to treat your cancer, such as chemotherapy.
Your medical oncologist may recommend one or more of the following choices based on the kind and stage of your cancer:
- Chemotherapy employs medication to either eradicate or inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
- Utilizing biological drugs to strengthen the immune system against cancer cells is immunotherapy, also known as biotherapy.
- A medication called hormone treatment is used to stop certain hormones from acting improperly.
- Utilizing medications that specifically target the chemicals responsible for the growth or spread of cancer, targeted therapy interacts with cancer cells.
Your medical oncology treatment plan will be customized to meet your specific objectives, overall health, and illness state.
Doctors
Dr. Rahul Kulkarni
MD,DM( Medical Oncology) PGDGM,ECMO
