Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the study, treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of cancer. A medical professional who practices oncology is an oncologist. The name's etymological origin is the Greek word ὄγκος (ónkos), meaning "tumor", "volume" or "mass". Oncology is concerned with:
- The diagnosis of any cancer in a person (pathology)
- Therapy (e.g. surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other modalities)
- Follow-up of cancer patients after successful treatment
- Palliative care of patients with terminal malignancies
- Ethical questions surrounding cancer care
- Screening efforts:
- of populations, or
- of the relatives of patients (in types of cancer that are thought to have a hereditary basis, such as breast cancer)
A coronal CT scan showing a malignant mesothelioma, indicated by the asterisk and the arrows | |
| Focus | Cancerous tumor |
|---|---|
| Subdivisions | Medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology |
| Significant tests | Tumor markers, TNM staging, CT scans, MRI |
| Occupation | |
|---|---|
Occupation type | Specialty |
Activity sectors | Medicine |
| Description | |
Education required |
|
Fields of employment | Hospitals, Clinics, Clinical research centers |
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