What Is Oncology?
Oncology is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
cancer. A doctor who specializes in oncology is called an oncologist.
Cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the body. These cells can form tumors,
spread to other parts of the body, and interfere with how organs and systems work.
Types of Oncology
There are three main types of oncology, depending on how the cancer is treated:
1. Medical Oncology - Uses medications like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy
to treat cancer.
2. Surgical Oncology - Involves surgery to remove tumors or cancer-affected tissues.
3. Radiation Oncology - Uses radiation therapy to kill or shrink cancer cells.
Other subfields include:
- Pediatric Oncology - Cancer in children
- Gynaecologic Oncology - Cancer in female reproductive organs
- Hematologic Oncology - Cancers of the blood, like leukemia and lymphoma
How Is Cancer Diagnosed?
Doctors use a variety of tests to detect cancer:
- Biopsy (taking a sample of tissue for testing)
- Imaging tests (like MRI, CT scans, or X-rays)
Oncology is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
cancer. A doctor who specializes in oncology is called an oncologist.
Cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the body. These cells can form tumors,
spread to other parts of the body, and interfere with how organs and systems work.
Types of Oncology
There are three main types of oncology, depending on how the cancer is treated:
1. Medical Oncology - Uses medications like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy
to treat cancer.
2. Surgical Oncology - Involves surgery to remove tumors or cancer-affected tissues.
3. Radiation Oncology - Uses radiation therapy to kill or shrink cancer cells.
Other subfields include:
- Pediatric Oncology - Cancer in children
- Gynaecologic Oncology - Cancer in female reproductive organs
- Hematologic Oncology - Cancers of the blood, like leukemia and lymphoma
How Is Cancer Diagnosed?
Doctors use a variety of tests to detect cancer:
- Biopsy (taking a sample of tissue for testing)
- Imaging tests (like MRI, CT scans, or X-rays)
