Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. A medical professional who practices oncology is an oncologist. The name's etymological origin is the Greek word ????? (ónkos), meaning "tumor", "volume" or "mass".
The three components which have improved survival in cancer are:
- Prevention - This is by reduction of risk factors like tobacco and alcohol consumption
- Early diagnosis - Screening of common cancers and comprehensive diagnosis and staging
- Treatment - Multimodality management by discussion in tumor board and treatment in a comprehensive cancer centre
Cancers are often managed through discussion on multi-disciplinary cancer conferences where medical oncologist, surgical oncologist, radiation oncologist, pathologist, radiologist and organ specific oncologists meet to find the best possible management for an individual patient considering the physical, social, psychological, emotional and financial status of the patients. It is very important for oncologists to keep updated of the latest advancements in oncology, as changes in management of cancer are quite common. All eligible patients in whom cancer progresses and for whom no standard of care treatment options are available should be enrolled in a clinical trial.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
Risk factors
Oncology Market Research Video
Screening
Screening is recommended for cancers of breast, cervix, colon and lung.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually depend on the site and type of cancer.
Diagnosis and staging
Diagnostic and staging investigations depend on the site and type of malignancy
Blood cancer
Blood investigations including Haemoglobin, Total leucocyte count, Platelet count, Peripheral Smear, Red cell indices
Bone marrow studies including aspiration, Flow-cytometry, Cytogenetics, Fluorescent in situ hybridisation and molecular studies.
Lymphoma
Excision biopsy of lymph node for Histopathological Examination (HPE), Immuno-histochemistry (IHC) and molecular studies.
Blood investigations including Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Serum Uric Acid, Renal Functions.
Imaging tests like Computerised Tomography (CT), Positron emission tomography (PET CT).
Bone marrow biopsy.
Solid tumors
Biopsy for histopathology & IHC.
Imaging tests like Roentgenogram (X-ray), Ultrasonography, Computerised tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and PET CT.
Endoscopy including Naso-pharyngoscopy, Direct & Indirect Laryngoscopy, Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Colonoscopy, Cystoscopy.
tumor markers including alphafetoprotein (AFP), Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), Carcinoembionic Antigen (CEA), CA 125, Prostate specific antigen (PSA).
Treatment
Treatment depends on the site and type of cancer.
Solid tumors
Lymphoma
It includes Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL):
Blood cancer
Includes acute and chronic leukemias. Acute leukemias includes acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Chronic leukemias include chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
Specialties
- The three main divisions:
- Medical oncology: focuses on treatment of cancer with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy.
- Surgical oncology: focuses on treatment of cancer with surgery.
- Radiation oncology: focuses on treatment of cancer with radiation.
- Sub-specialties in Oncology:
- Neuro-oncology: focuses on cancers of brain.
- Ocular oncology: focuses on cancers of eye.
- Head & Neck oncology: focuses on cancers of oral cavity, nasal cavity, oropharynx, hypopharyx and larynx.
- Thoracic oncology: focuses on cancers of lung, mediastinum, oesophagus and pleura.
- Breast oncology: focuses on cancers of breast
- Gastrointestinal oncology: focuses on cancers of stomach, colon, rectum, anal canal, liver, gallbladder, pancreas.
- Bone & Musculoskeletal oncology: focuses on cancers of bones and soft tissue.
- Genitourinary oncology: focuses on cancers of genital and urinary system.
- Gynecologic oncology: focuses on cancers of the female reproductive system.
- Pediatric oncology: concerned with the treatment of cancer in children.
- Hemato oncology: focuses on cancers of blood and stem cell transplantation
- Preventive oncology: focuses on epidemiology & prevention of cancer.
- Geriatric oncology: focuses on cancers in elderly population.
- Pain & Palliative oncology: focuses on treatment of end stage cancer to alleviate the suffering.
- Molecular oncology: focuses on molecular diagnostic methods in oncology.
- Oncopathology: A specialty of Pathology that focuses on the histopathological diagnosis of cancer. As a significant portion of all general pathology practice is concerned with cancer, the practice of oncology is deeply tied to, and dependent upon, the work of both anatomical and clinical pathologists.
- Nuclear medicine oncology: focuses on diagnosis and treatment of cancer with radiopharmaceuticals.
- Psycho-oncology: focuses on psychosocial issues on diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients.
- Veterinary oncology: focuses on treatment of cancer in animals.
Progress and future
- Leukemia, Lymphoma, Germ cell tumors and early stage solid tumors which were once incurable have become curable malignancies now
- Survival of cancer has significantly improved over the past years due to improved screening, diagnostic methods and treatment options with targeted therapy.
- Large multi-centric Phase III randomised controlled clinical trials by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast & Bowel Project (NSABP) Medical Research Council (MRC), the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), and National Cancer Institute (NCI) have contributed significantly to the improvement in survival.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
EmoticonEmoticon