Oncology

Oncology is a branch of medicine that specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer. It also researches the occurrence and risk factors of cancer, statistics about cancer and ways of prevention. Oncologists are doctors who specialize in oncology. Cancer diagnosis, staging, treatment and care of the patient are followed by oncologists. Oncology is a constantly changing and evolving field of medicine. Research continues on many subjects such as cancer cell biology, chemotherapy treatment methods, the most appropriate palliative care and pain treatment.

Sub Branches of Oncology:

• Gynecological Oncology: It deals with the diagnosis and treatment of cancers in the female reproductive organs.
• Medical Oncology: It is the field of specialization in chemotherapy drugs.
• Pediatric Oncology: It is the field of oncology that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer observed in children.
• Radiation Oncology: It is the field of expertise in the field of radiotherapy.
• Surgical Oncology: It is the field of oncology that includes the biopsy procedure and surgeries to remove the tumor.

What diseases does oncology treat?

• Leukemia,
• Skin cancer,
• Gastric cancer,
• breast cancer,
• bone cancer,
• Testicular cancer
• thyroid cancer,
• kidney cancer,
• Uterine cancer,
• Prostate cancer,
• bowel cancer,
• pancreatic cancer
• liver cancer
• bile duct cancer,
• cervical cancer,
• Head and neck cancers
• Lymph node cancer, ie lymphoma,
• Gallbladder cancer is one of the diseases that oncology treats.

What kind of tests do oncology departments do?

• Complete Blood Count (CBC)
• CT (Computed tomography) Scan
• Biopsy
• Imaging Tests:
•  Endoscopy
• x-ray
• CT (Computed Tomography) scan
• MRI
• Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) scan
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans
• scintigraphy
• Nuclear medicine techniques
• bone scans
• Ultrasound and other radiological techniques