Oncology involves the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, with specialists focusing on specific areas such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Research is also a key aspect, with a focus on finding new treatments for even the rarest forms of cancer. Early diagnosis and prevention are crucial, with tests such as the PSA panel and mammograms helping to detect cancer early. Oncology has made significant advancements in the last 25 years, with both failures and successes.
Oncology, at its most basic level, involves the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The word oncology comes from the Greek word meaning “mass” or “mass,” referring to tumors. A doctor who specializes in oncology is called an oncologist.
Oncology involves a wide range of studies. Because cancer can occur in so many systems of the body, many doctors choose to specialize in a particular area, such as bone cancer or blood disorders. Some doctors specialize in chemotherapy treatments, while others focus on radiation therapy. Most oncology physicians conduct internships and residencies focused on cancer treatment, usually in their preferred therapeutic branch. A specialist often serves about four years beyond the normal residency period.
Oncology also includes research on cancer, its causes and possible treatments. This is also an open field for scientists interested in a variety of research opportunities. Some facilities, such as St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, in Memphis, Tennessee, are primarily a research institution. Oncology researchers continue to look for ways to treat even the rarest forms of cancer in humans.
Oncology has come a long way since the first surgeons were able to excise tumors with only the most primitive means. It has also leapfrogged in the last 25 years or so, with huge improvements in prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Doctors agree that early diagnosis, if not prevention, is the best way to deal with cancer, and oncology covers this aspect of medicine as well. Tests such as the Prostate-Specific Antigen panel were born from this philosophy. This test alone has saved countless men through early detection of prostate cancer or precancerous conditions. Other tests, such as mammograms, represent huge steps in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer, while the Pap smear helps in the early detection of cervical cancer.
Oncology is an ever-expanding field with failures, true, but also spectacular successes.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
