Oncology is the study and treatment of malignant tumors or cancer. Medical oncology uses drugs, chemotherapy, and other therapies to treat cancer. Oncologists must graduate from an accredited medical school and complete a residency program to become certified. Medical oncologists must pass a certification exam and specialize in treating cancer with medications such as chemotherapy, biological response modifiers, and hormone therapies.
Oncology is a specialty in the field of medicine that focuses on the study and treatment of all malignant tumors or cancer. There are several subspecialties that fall under the oncology category. Medical oncology is a category in which drugs, chemotherapy and other related therapies – such as biological response modifiers and hormone therapies – are used to treat cancer.
A doctor who practices oncology is called an oncologist. These medical professionals specialize in studying, diagnosing, and treating cancer. An oncologist may work in community and university hospitals and medical centers, in private or group practices, or in research organizations.
To enter the field of medical oncology, one must first graduate from an accredited medical school. To become certified in oncology, a physician must enroll in a residency program accredited by the American Council on Medical Education (ACGME). After successfully completing this postgraduate education, she must pass an exam to earn a certification in oncology.
From there, the oncologist can select from several oncology subspecialties. Three main subcategories of oncology are surgical, radiation, and medical oncology. Other subspecialties include gynecologic oncology, medical oncology, pediatric oncology, and hematology – which focuses on treating cancers of the blood and related tissues.
When an oncologist chooses to specialize in medical oncology, they must complete additional education and training, as well as pass a certification exam administered by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The core content on which the candidate may be tested includes pharmacology, cancer biology and clinical research methodology, as well as supportive care and ethics. Specific cancers that the oncologist may want to be familiar with are hematologic malignancies, as well as breast, gastroenterologic, thoracic, genitourinary, gynecologic, and other solid tumors.
On the exam, medical oncologist candidates may encounter a wide variety of topics such as general internal medicine as it relates to the practice of medical oncology. Another area that can be highlighted in the test is the diagnosis and staging of neoplasms, including genetic markers. Treatment options — including chemotherapy, hormone therapies, radiation therapy, and biological response modifiers — may also be part of the exam.
Once the oncologist is certified and practicing, he or she will typically be focused on helping the patient manage their cancer through the use of medications. Chemotherapy, a drug regimen that uses chemicals to kill rapidly growing malignant cells in the body, is one of the most prescribed therapies in the field of medical oncology. Biological response modifiers, which are substances that stimulate the body’s natural response to diseases such as cancer, are also often used in the treatment of disease. Hormone therapies can also be used to treat various types of cancer.
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