Medical Oncology

Medical Oncology

Hearing the word “cancer” can be one of the most overwhelming moments of a person's life. If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed, you will likely meet with several different doctors. One of the most important specialists you will see is a Medical Oncologist.

Navigating cancer treatment is a journey, and understanding who is on your healthcare team is the first step toward taking control of your health. Here is a simple guide to what medical oncology is and how these doctors help you fight cancer.

What is Medical Oncology?

Oncology is the branch of medicine entirely dedicated to researching, diagnosing, and treating cancer. However, there are different ways to treat cancer.

Medical oncology is the specific field that focuses on treating cancer using medicines (drugs). This is different from surgical oncology (treating cancer by cutting it out) or radiation oncology (treating cancer using high-energy X-rays).

A doctor who specializes in this field is called a Medical Oncologist.

The "Captain" of Your Cancer Team

You can think of a medical oncologist as the captain or manager of your cancer care team. Because cancer is complex, treating it usually requires a group of experts working together.

Your medical oncologist will oversee your entire treatment plan from the moment you are diagnosed. They are the ones who will:

• Explain your specific type of cancer and what stage it is in.
• Discuss all your treatment options and help you choose the best path forward.
• Prescribe and manage your cancer-fighting medications.
• Monitor your progress through regular check-ups, blood tests, and scans.
• Help you manage any side effects from your treatment.

How Does a Medical Oncologist Treat Cancer?

While a surgeon removes a tumour with a scalpel, a medical oncologist uses powerful medications that travel throughout your entire bloodstream. This means they can treat cancer cells wherever they are in the body.

Depending on your specific diagnosis, they may use one or a combination of the following treatments:

• Chemotherapy: This is the most well-known cancer treatment. It uses strong medicines to attack and destroy fast-growing cancer cells in the body.
• Immunotherapy: This is a newer, highly advanced type of treatment that actually trains your body’s own natural immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
• Targeted Therapy: Unlike chemotherapy, which can affect healthy cells, targeted therapy uses smart drugs designed to identify and attack only specific parts of the cancer cells to stop them from growing and spreading.
• Hormone Therapy: Some cancers, such as certain breast and prostate cancers, use the body's natural hormones to grow. Hormone therapy blocks these hormones to starve the cancer cells.

What to Expect at Your First Visit

Your first appointment with a medical oncologist is usually a "fact-finding" mission. You will not usually start treatment on the very first day.

Instead, the doctor will review your medical history, look at your biopsy reports and imaging scans (like MRIs or CT scans), and examine you. They will sit down with you and your family to explain exactly what is going on in plain language, and outline a step-by-step plan for how to fight it. It is highly recommended to bring a notebook and a trusted family member to this appointment to help you listen and ask questions.