Cancer is the second deadliest disease in the world after cardiovascular disease, namely stroke and heart disease. So it is natural to get special attention in the medical field. Oncology is a specialized field that deals with the prevention and treatment of cancer.
Doctors who specialize in the field of oncology are called oncologists. It is not uncommon for more than one oncologist to deal with a patient. Oncologists can provide advice on all aspects from examination to treatment of cancer, including carrying out chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.
Oncologist as a Cancer Expert
Clinical oncology is divided into three areas, namely surgical oncology, which studies aspects of surgery in cancer such as staging, biopsy, and tumor surgical resection. Then, medical oncology that focuses on treating cancer with treatment, such as chemotherapy treatment. Finally, radiation oncology as a form of cancer treatment with therapeutic radiation.
Generally patients will be more in touch with medical oncologists. Medical oncologists will examine, diagnose, and provide recommendations for comprehensive treatment, which is tailored to the needs of patients, including working together to treat diseases with other oncology fields.
The role of medical oncologists in patients includes:
- Diagnose cancer and discuss treatment steps.
- Manage and monitor the course of treatment or therapy, including handling complications that may occur.
- Caring for the health conditions of cancer patients after entering the recovery period after treatment.
Various types of cancer can be treated by medical oncologists, including breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, ovarian cancer, blood cancer or leukemia, skin cancer or melanoma, and tumors in the kidneys.
Diagnosis Equipment
Cancer has a variety of symptoms, such as weight loss, fatigue, fever, and anemia. So it is important for an oncologist to know the patient's complete and systematic medical history. To help make the diagnosis, the oncologist can use a sample examination of the removal of tumor cells or biopsy.
In addition, oncologists can also use the results of physical examinations, laboratory examinations such as blood cells and cancer markers, x-rays, ultrasound, endoscopy to examine the digestive tract, CT scan, MRI, and other supporting examinations, to confirm the diagnosis.
Quick Diagnosis, Appropriate Handling
Cancer patients need the best treatment and care for survival. Therefore, choosing the right oncologist is one of the important keys to diagnose and provide the treatment needed. Given that in dealing with cancer, time plays a very important role, then when a diagnosis is made will determine the type of treatment that can be done, as well as its effect on the type of cancer that is experienced. The faster the diagnosis is made, the higher the chance of successful treatment.
First, ask for a specialist's recommendation from a doctor who gives you a cancer diagnosis for the first time. In many cases, the doctor will recommend treatment from other doctors.
If the diagnosis from the doctor is not final, but the doctor says there is a chance of cancer. Then ask the doctor to give two-three names of doctors or other specialists for a second opinion or second opinion. Don't despair, and keep in touch with the doctor.
No less important is choosing the right hospital. Choose a hospital that has oncology health services, especially those that have handled the type of cancer that you are experiencing. The hospital generally has oncologists who are ready to deal with cancer appropriately, supported by adequate examination and treatment facilities.
Although the field of oncology is still quite unfamiliar to the layman, but this field actually has a long role in dealing with cancer. Ask your doctor for advice on finding the right oncologist and hospital to help your condition.
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