Cancer/Oncology Consultation- Cancer/Oncology
Cancer/oncology consultation is a collaboration among several specialists. It aims to correctly diagnose the condition, determine the stage, and design a treatment plan. Consultation is needed after your primary care provider suspects cancer and refers you to a cancer specialist.
Cancer/oncology consultation team comprises:
A medical oncologist
Usually, a medical oncologist is the main health care provider for cancer patients. A medical oncologist is a doctor with specializations in diagnosing and treating cancer. They are experts in different types of cancer treatment. For example, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy, and targeted therapy.
A radiation oncologist
A radiation oncologist is an expert who specializes in treating cancer with radiation.
A surgical oncologist
Surgical oncologists are surgeons who remove tumors using surgical techniques.
A surgical pathologist
Surgical pathologists are central to cancer diagnosis. They extract tissues from the patient and analyze it using a powerful microscope. The results from the analysis are critically important in diagnosing cancer. Moreover, the analysis helps other members estimate prognosis.
A radiologist
A radiologist is a doctor who interprets the results of different imaging tests. For example, X-rays, MRI, CT scans, and PET scans. Besides, they prepare radiology reports. Other doctors in the team use the reports for making decisions about the treatment.
Oncology nurses
An oncology nurse plays several key roles in cancer consultation and treatment. These include cancer screening, detection, and prevention.
What You Should Know about Cancer Consultation
Cancer is a long-term condition and relapses are common. Thus, it is likely that you will need more than one consultation throughout the treatment.
After checking all test results, they will confirm the diagnosis. Then, the team will work toward designing a treatment plan. Furthermore, they will estimate the outcome of your condition. If a cure is not possible, they will recommend measures to delay disease progression and improve quality of life.
Sources:
- https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/medical-oncologist
- https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/radiation-oncologist
- https://medschool.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=1158&action=detail&ref=1045
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3767159/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23748033
- https://med.virginia.edu/radiology/2017/07/11/what-is-a-radiologist/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK13237/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK13570/
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