Thursday, November 1, 2012

The Role Of An Oncologist Explained

By Jerri Lundell


Being informed that you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer isn't an easy matter to accept. Due to the innovations in modern medicine now though, the diagnosis of cancer appears to be less of a death sentence than it was, say, thirty years ago.

Therapy is significantly much more useful when the disease is discovered at an early stage. Generally, cancer is treated by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In some cases, surgical treatment is also recommended in order to remove specially large or malignant tumors. A great oncologist has the capacity to suggest the treatment that's most efficacious for the patient. Certainly, a medical professional who specializes in cancer therapy must be capable to relate this information to patients in a way that they feel confident and comforted.

The realm of oncology is not confined to treatment of patients alone either. A few cancers, like breast and ovarian cancers, may have a hereditary basis for their development, i.e. they can be hereditary. As such, a medical doctor treating cancer should have the tact and discretion to broach the subject to family members who may possibly, in time, be suffering with similar condition. A sensitive way is also crucial whenever a medical professional has to tell a patient that she or he may have minimal options with regards to cancer survival.

As useful as it might be, tact is of limited use to an oncologist who does not keep up-to-date with the most recent advancements in the field of cancer treatment. The field of cancer research is such that there's virtually a new breakthrough with regards to treatment and patient care every year. As such, whilst there's probably no single treatment for cancer, a well-informed doctor must be able to suggest his patients on the choices best suited to them.

The field of oncology is an amazing area of study, even to the layman. Researchers and oncologists will likely be kept busy in the years to come for as long as human bodies still malfunction.




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