Oncologist
Being diagnosed with any type of cancer is not good for anyone. If you are diagnosed with cancer, undoubtedly you will be sent to the medical specialist who is known as an oncologist. The specialists who can deal with cancers are oncologists.
There are few things you need to consider while choosing an oncologist:
• Search for an oncologist who is board certified. This is a sign that you are going to be treated by a person who is perfect in their competency and understanding in the field. The tests shown that you are dealing with cancer, which is dangerous, so search for only best instead of any other. There are different types of board certifications available such as medical oncologists are board certified in the internal medicine and have their sub specialization in medical oncology and radiation oncologists are board certified in the radiation oncology.
• It is the best way to choose your doctor based on his experience. The best sign is he's practicing oncology for fulltime.
• Getting your complete care at a good hospital is another measure of capability of the oncologist. Look for the hospital designation as a comprehensive cancer care center by the NCI. Because these centers have medical and radiation oncologists, and surgeons under one roof, this will reduce your travel and coordinate your care. They also do research about cancer, which allows them to perform updated treatment for you.
• One way to find the best doctor is to ask for the referral from your physician who provides you primary care. You can also consult your family members, friends, or coworkers.
• NIC (national Cancer center) is a designated cancer center that can provide you the information about oncologists who practice at the center.
• The ABMS can maintain a list of doctors who have met some training and educational requirements and have done their specialty courses. You must have to register to use this self-serve resource that allows you to conduct searches by their name or else area of the certification and the state name. In most of the libraries, the directory also available.
• The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) can provide a list of physicians and their specialization in online. This society maintain member database in that you can find 30,000 oncologists worldwide with their names and also affiliations. It can be searched by the doctor's institution, name, oncology specialty, location, and board certification type.
• Local medicinal societies may also maintain the list of doctors according to their specialization.
• Medical and public libraries may maintain the print directories of cancer specialists name and their area of working.
• Local yellow books or yellow pages may have physicians list and also their specialization.
Johnny (not real name) is a 46-yar-old male. He was diagnosed with a Stage II B colon cancer and underwent a surgery which turned out to have gone wrong. A second corrective surgery had to be performed. Later Johnny was asked to undergo chemotherapy which he declined. Johnny related in great detail the "frustration" about his meeting with an oncologist. The following is the transcript of our video-taped conversation.
Encounter With the Oncologist
Johnny: I went into his (oncologist) office. I sat down and did not say anything.
Nurse: Oh, you have to wait for so long?
J: Yes, three hours. The oncologist read out my name. Then he asked the first question.
Oncologist: Mr. Johnny, what car are you driving?
J: My car is Proton Saga (Malaysian made car).
Onco: What is your profession?
J: Housing Site Supervisor.
Onco: Now, I tell you. Your cancer is like a Mercedes, BMW, Japanese car or a local car. Your case is Stage 2. So you need to take a good medicine -- like a Mercedes medicine to fight.
J: He (oncologist) started to ramble on. I just listened. After he stopped, I asked him: "How much is my cost, going through all this chemo treatment?"
Onco: Are you confirmed or not? You have to confirm first that you are going for chemotherapy.
J: I was stunned. Confirmed? Before knowing anything, I have to decide and make a confirmation? I asked him (oncologist): "Sir, can you give me two minutes to digest your question." After digesting it, I asked him: "As a consultant, you should know better than me, what type of medicine you are going to use, how much it costs and all these. So, what is the cost and the type of medicine you are going to use on me? It is only then, can I decide what to do." The oncologist went on rambling again.
Onco: There are many kinds of medicine. There is A - the good one; B, not so good one and C, which is an oral one. So which type do you want?
This author: He (oncologist) asked you choose?
J: He asked me to confirm first that I am going to do chemotherapy. He will then tell me which type of medicine he is going to use. But, I asked him for the cost.
Author: Why did he not tell you right away that A costs so much, B so much? Even in the nasi kandar (local food) shop we have a list of prices posted on a board in the shop. Why don't they just do that?
J: No, he would not tell me that. He wanted me to confirm first and only then will he tell me how much and what medicine he is using. I asked him: "For my stage, is it necessary for me to take oral chemo. See, my job is to walk around here and there." He did not answer my question at all. At one point, the oncologist asked me this question through his nurse: "Do you understand what I am saying?"
J: I said this to his nurse: "Tell your doctor that I fully understand what he is trying to say. But I am not sure, if he understands what I am saying to him."
What is Chemotherapy For?
Author: In your discussion, did he ever say that whatever drug he is giving you, is it going to help you or not?
J: No, no. He just told me it is just for prevention. He said that now I have gotten rid off my cancer, there may be some more cancer cells present in the lungs or anywhere else in the body.
Author: So, the whole idea is just for prevention?
J: Yes ... and I must go for chemotherapy.
Author: In your conversation with him, did you ever discuss if chemotherapy is going to help you at all?
J: No, I did not ask. I was so fed with the way he talked to me.
Perusal of Medical Reports
J: I asked the oncologist: "Did you go through my medical report seriously?" I used the word seriously. The way I see it, he just flicked through the pages without even reading it.
Author: He did not really read the report? I mean, the way you saw it?
J: He did not take time to really look at it at all not to say read. He just looked at it and he told me that I had Stage 2. How am I going to trust him?
Author: When you asked him "Did you really read my report", what did he say?
J: He just looked at me like this ... (showing his face), and replied: "Are you confirmed or not. If you are confirmed that you are going to do chemotherapy, then come back tomorrow and I shall prepare all the things."
I asked the oncologist again: "As a consultant, is this the correct way to talk to your patient? What if the patient tells you he does not want to go for chemotherapy?"
Onco: No, no. You have to go for chemotherapy. You have Stage 2 cancer.
J: But you still have not told me how much it is going to cost - just roughly, there is no need for the exact figure, but just give a rough figure.
Q: Okay, let me ask you about your file again. He did not read and study your medical records? What is your impression on that?
J: No, he did not read at all. That's a fact. He is interested to know whether I can confirm if I wanted to go for chemo or not. That's my impression.
The Explosion
J: I could not stand him anymore. I told him: "F (four letter word and other dirty words)" - right on his face. "Forget about it. I am not going for chemotherapy. You give me back all my x-ray films and file. I am not going to see you again."
Q: You told him that?
J: Yes. He responded: "Oh, your cancer is very serious - very serious. You have to go for chemotherapy."
He still insisted that I go for chemotherapy. I told him again: "You did not tell me how much it is going to cost." This is the last word the oncologist said to me before I left this room. "Okay, it is going to cost around RM 4,500 per dose and you need six doses within three months." He did not tell me what medicine he wanted to use or whether chemotherapy is going to be able to cure me or not.
The Walk Out
J: When I walked out of his room, his nurse came running after me.
Author: The nurse came after you?
J: Yes, and she said: "Mr. Johnny ... er. I bring you to our Welfare Department to discuss." I told her: "Okay. I trust you but not your doctor." I wanted to give another try and I went to see the officer in the Welfare Department.
Welfare Officer: He did not write how much it would cost, how to negotiate with you?
J: But the last word, he told me was: RM 4,500 per dose and I have to do six doses. That means RM 27,000. So, tell me how much discount can you give me? Then I told the Welfare Officer: "Forget about it." And I walked off from his office.
Why I Went to the Oncologist in the First Place
Author: You went to see the oncologist, but the way you talked to him seemed to be quite aggressive. I understand you. You needed information. You wanted to know many things. Your life was in his hands. Let me ask you this: Before you went to see the oncologist, have you already made up your mind NOT to undergo chemotherapy?
J: Yes.
Author: Then, why did you go and see him then?
J: Oh, because the nurse in the hospital (where I had my surgery) had been calling my wife every two to three days.
Nurse to my wife: Your husband still did not go for chemotherapy? We have made an appointment for him to see the oncologist. But he did not go.
Author: You mean the hospital was bugging you to go and see the oncologist?
J: Yes, exactly.
Author: How many times did the nurse called you?
J: As many times as I postponed the appointments to go and see the oncologist. So, at last, I had to give in and gave it a try.
An oncologist deals with the diagnosis, therapy such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery, constant follow-up with the patient, and the screening of the relatives of the patient. Having diagnosed with breast cancer, a patient is informed with the 3 specialty areas in the treatment of the disease, which are as follows: medical oncology, surgical oncology and radiation oncology.
There are different methods in the diagnosis. The medical oncologist for breast cancer may do a biopsy on the patient (may be incisional or excisional), x-rays or several blood tests. If a patient is diagnosed to have one, the treatment for the tumor that the medical oncologist would apply varies depending on the stage of the disease.
Chemotherapy may be done before or after surgery. Chemotherapy involves several kinds of drugs and these drugs are given to patients with primary breast cancer; breast cancer believed to have not yet spread outside the breast or to the lymph nodes. Chemotherapy can also be used to treat tumor that has already metastasized or have already spread to other organs in the body.
Another specialty therapy of a medical oncologist is hormone therapy. This hormone therapy interferes with the hormones in the body that stimulates the growth of the ailment. Hormone therapy can be done to patients with primary breast cancer or also to patients with tumor that has already spread to other organs in the body.
The treatment that the medical oncologist for breast cancer applies to patients, like chemotherapy, has certain side effects like loss of hair. These doctors are expert in their field and so they also are dealing with the treatment of the side effects and problems encountered by the patient with breast cancer.
Charlene J. Nuble is a healthcare professional who loves writing about women's issues, parenting and other health related stuffs.
Oncology is certainly the most quickly growing sub-specialty in the field of medicine, and breast cancer is one of the most crucial problems of oncology. It is the principal cause of death of women in lots of countries and is really a multidisciplinary problem with no geographic constraints.
It is the most usual cancer of women in the US, affecting approximately one in eight as long as their life span. It affects men, but it is rare, accounting for less than 1 percent of all cases. In 2007, roughly 200,000 women and 1,600 men in the US had the disease. As a person ages, the possibility of getting breast cancer rises.
To treat breast cancer well, many medical professionals with various specialties are required. Every diagnosis is distinctive and treated in a different way. A number of women might visit a cancer center where a group of physicians who focus in breast disease (radiologist, oncologist, surgeon, etc.) collaborate to settle on treatment. Other women are referred to cancer specialists by their principal care physician (family practitioner, gynecologist).
Medical professionals engaged in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment might include: Gynecologist or OB/GYN, Radiologist, Oncologist (general, medical, radiation, surgical), Nurse/oncology nurse specialist, Oncology social worker, Surgeon, Radiation therapy oncologist, Radiation therapy technologist, Radiation therapy physicist, Pathologist, and Reconstructive/plastic surgeon.
An oncologist is a medical doctor who trains in the diagnosis and also treatment of cancer. If a radiologist identifies breast cancer, a woman might be referred to an oncologist for treatment. Medical oncologists concentrate in the use of chemotherapy and other drugs to care for cancer. Radiation oncologists focus in the usage of x-rays and other radiation techniques to eradicate tumors.
Radiation oncologists are specialized doctors who work with cancer patients who are receiving radiation treatments. These highly skilled professionals oversee the patient's care, which includes developing a treatment plan and prescribing radiation treatments. They also make sure that the radiation treatments are applied accurately, adjust treatments and monitor patient's progress. As they work closely with other oncologists and doctors, they help to identify any side effects that occur from this form of treatment as well as provide proper medications for side effects. These specialized physicians are experts in the field of radiation and the treating of disease. After extensive study and training on the safety of this field as well as safe application for the treatment of cancer, these physicians will have completed 13 years of extensive training to become board certified.
This form of treatment has been used for hundreds of years to treat cancer. After the discovery of the x-ray and its effects on this type of disease, it has gained popularity in being an effective choice of treatment for certain types of cancers. Today, many people have success with this form of therapy and experience few side effects. It has also been proven to be less traumatic on normal tissue, allowing the preservation and function of healthy cells.
With the advancements in modern technology and the highly trained physicians who work with this field of medicine, more than half of the people who suffer from cancer will be treated with high-energy radiation. This form of therapy uses computerized treatment plans combined with three-dimensional imaging and x-ray machines that are highly energized. The physician may use this therapy to treat the disease or to relieve pain.
This form of therapy is effective as it stops cancer cells from reproducing and allows the body to naturally eliminate the cells from the body. This therapy may be used along with chemotherapy or used alone. Cancer of the larynx and the prostate are often treated solely with radiation. Sometimes this therapy is used along with surgery to allow more body tissue to be saved, preventing complete removal of the affected body part, such as the bladder or breast. Therapy can include external generation or internal generation.
To find a radiation oncologist, most patients are referred to these specialized doctors by their oncologist. To ensure that the doctor is the best available, asking the medical staff who work at the oncologist's office such as the oncology nurses, who they would recommend, will usually lead the patient to the doctor who is the most experienced and has the best success rate in this field.
An Oncologist is a medical professional who is specifically trained to diagnose and treat various types of cancer. They'll see patients with a variety of cancers that invade many different areas of the body including the lungs, skin, eyes, mouth, tongue, bones, lymph nodes, stomach, and many other organs. This type of doctor is trained to observe the symptoms, determine where the cancer is growing, and develop an effective treatment plan to either eliminate or confine the cancer so it can't get into other areas of the body. In the field of oncology many doctors decide to specialize in one or more treatment areas.
Types of Oncology
A radiation oncologist is one who plans and oversees radiation treatments for certain types of cancers. He'll develop a plan and work alongside the other members of the radiology team to monitor the patient's progress and adjust the treatment plan as necessary. He'll also help the patient deal with the many possible side effects associated with radiology treatment. These specialists complete nine years of school along with four years of residency which is specifically focused on the field of radiation oncology. They also undergo rigorous examination to become a certified member of the American Board of Radiology.
Some oncologists choose to specialize in chemotherapy as their primary treatment for cancer. In some severe cases, both chemotherapy and radiation are used to shrink the tumors growing inside a patient's body.
When a tumor can easily be removed without damage to vital organs, a surgical oncologist may also be included in the treatment plan. Surgical removal is typically used when the tumor hasn't spread very far from its original area of growth, so cancer that has spread further than its origin is less likely to be helped through surgery. Even after surgery, other medical treatments like chemotherapy and radiation will probably be used to combat remaining cancer cells and prevent further growths.
The Vital Partnership of an Oncology Nurse
The role of the oncology nurse may be just as vital as the role played by the medical oncologist who plans and performs cancer treatments. The nurse is the one who is constantly assessing the patient's progress, coordinating treatments, educating the patient and his family, and continuing to learn more and more about cancer through specific hours of research on recent developments in the field.
An oncology nurse is one of the first medical professionals to meet with the newly diagnosed patient. At that first meeting, take his medical history, look at any lab results that have come into the office, and assess the patient's overall physical and emotional condition. Once treatment is begun, she'll assess his physical and emotional state through the treatment and afterwards. This record allows the doctor to determine the best course of treatment and whether the current course needs to be adjusted.
Along with assessment, the oncology nurse is responsible for educating the patient and his family in the treatment that the patient will be receiving. She'll also explain the type of cancer he has and how this treatment will help.
Throughout the entire cancer treatment processes, both the nurse and the oncologist will be researching their patient's condition to give him the best care possible.
An oncologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer. The role of this doctor is to explain to the patient their cancer diagnosis after a cancer diagnosis is made, in addition to explaining the meaning of the disease stage. This physician also recommends the best method of treatment, discusses various treatment options, delivers care, and helps the patient improve their quality of life through therapy and care with symptom and pain management. If you have been diagnosed with a specific cancer that an oncologist can treat, visit a comprehensive medical center to receive the health care services you need. This facility will have board certified medical oncologists in addition to radiation oncologists who will diagnose and treat your condition to include colon, breast, prostate, lung, esophageal, lymphoma, and ovarian cancer.
You want to choose a medical center that will use a multidisciplinary approach towards treatment, which means each patient will benefit from the research, experience, and knowledge of individuals in the medical field to include counselors, pharmacists, dieticians, technicians, clinicians, chaplains, nurses, and physicians. The benefit of working with a medical center like this is that they have access to the latest technology and methods in order to provide you with the best treatment for your cancer. With the use of some of these technologies during your treatment, you may be able to receive shorter exam times and enhanced image quality.
The treatment at a reputable medical center can offer other benefits such as helping those who have just gotten a cancer diagnosis deal with their feelings of anger, confusion, helplessness, fear, anxiety, and guilt. The trained therapists and counselors will be on hand to provide individuals with the tools to help them manage some difficult feelings. Another way a comprehensive medical center can help those that have cancer is in the area of nutrition. When a person has cancer, they have particular dietary and nutritional requirements and often need the nutritional counseling of the dietician on hand. This individual may have lost weight, lost their appetite, lost the ability to smell or taste food, and might even have lost their interest in food.
If you need the services of an oncologist to help with the diagnosis and possible treatment of a cancer condition, visit a reputable medical center for health care services. You can call and set up an appointment to speak to one of the professional at the medical center to learn more about the services they offer and how they may be able to help you.
An oncologist is a doctor who specializes in the area of oncology, which is concerned with the diagnosis of cancer in a patient. If you have received a diagnosis of cancer, then you need to know what to expect, and you also need to know how to cope with it.
It has been estimated that half of all males and a third of all females in the United States will be given the news at some point in their lives that nobody wants to hear: that they have cancer. Very often, a cancer diagnosis comes out of nowhere and is not something that the person expected to hear. It can be scary to hear such news.
If this happens to you then bring a trusted member of your inner circle with you to talk with the oncologist or your primary care physician. This is a personal crisis, and you should not have to go through it alone. Once you hear the word "cancer" spoken by the healthcare provider, your brain is likely to tune out everything said afterwards. You need someone with you who can act as your advocate and will be able to retain all of the relevant information that is provided. Take someone with you who is understanding, supportive and reliable. You also want to take someone with you who is strong and a person you will be able to lean on.
Learn everything you can about the cancer that you have. Find out every detail that you can so you can be prepared for what is to come. Find out the name of the cancer, the location of it in your body and the size of it. You also want to find out where it got started and if it has spread to other areas (or if it has the potential to do so). Ask the oncologist if it is an aggressive form of cancer or one that grows very slowly. Find out what the treatment options are and what the success rate of each treatment is. It also helps to inquire about possible side effects from the treatments. You need to get an accurate assessment and understanding of what you are dealing with and how best to treat it.
When you should consult with a specialist in cancer is dependent upon the kind of cancer that you have been diagnosed with, as well as the stage it is in and the treatment options that are open to you. Cancer can take many forms and not all of them necessitate visiting an oncologist. For instance, if you are diagnosed with basal cell skin cancer, then it can be surgically removed and the likelihood that it will return is very slim. For the majority of types of cancers, consulting with an oncologist is recommended. This is something that your family doctor will talk over with you.
Getting news that you have cancer is serious and scary. No one wants to have that conversation with their doctor. If you are ever in this position, you will need an oncologist. Your primary care physician may refer you to one, but that does not mean you need to stick with that one. If you hear of one that is well known for their work, you could try to schedule an appointment with that person.
If you have cancer, your oncologist is an important part of your treatment. It is important to have one who is caring, empathetic, experienced, and also open to alternative treatments.
Having a cancer doctor who truly cares about you as well as your family is so important. Unfortunately, many medical professionals are so absorbed in diagnosing and treating that they may forget the people behind the treatments. Empathy in a doctor who treats cancer is so important. He or she my have never experienced cancer or had a loved one experience it, but a sense of understanding is very important.
Experience is a very important trait of a doctor who treats cancer. If he or she has had experience dealing with different forms of cancer and different treatments, he or she will likely be able to better help you to know what will work the best.
Openness to alternative treatments is an essential trait in your doctor. Today, there are various options available when it comes to treatment. In the past, an oncologist would likely only want to deal with traditional medicine. Today, however, much has changed, and alternative medicine alone or combined with chemotherapy methods is being used. Vitamin therapy as well as special diets can be a part of the alternative medicine. Having an oncologist who is open to other alternatives offers more hope for recovery than simply chemotherapy and surgery.
It will be urgent that you find a doctor quickly so that you can begin treatment. If you have friends who have had cancer, they may be able to suggest an oncologist that would work for you and have the traits that you desire.
Once you have the right doctor, it is important that you keep a positive attitude even when the news seems negative. Some doctors might sound negative. Hopefully you have chosen one who stays fairly up beat, but sometimes news is just not positive. No matter what the doctors say, keep your hopes high because that in and of itself will improve your health.
