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Friday, 18 May 2012

Oncologists And You

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By Helen Cooran


An Oncologist is a medical professional who is specifically trained to diagnose and treat various types of cancer. They'll see patients with a variety of cancers that invade many different areas of the body including the lungs, skin, eyes, mouth, tongue, bones, lymph nodes, stomach, and many other organs. This type of doctor is trained to observe the symptoms, determine where the cancer is growing, and develop an effective treatment plan to either eliminate or confine the cancer so it can't get into other areas of the body. In the field of oncology many doctors decide to specialize in one or more treatment areas.

A radiation oncologist is a doctor who plans and runs the radiation treatment options for certain kinds of cancer. He will create a strategy and work together with the other people in the radiology group to watch the sufferer's development and alter the plan for treatment as needed. He will in addition assist the sufferer cope with the numerous likely negative effects linked to radiology therapy. These types of medical specialists finish 9 years of college together with 4 years of post degree residency that is especially centered on the realm of radiation oncology. Additionally they go through demanding evaluation to be a qualified person in the American Board of Radiology.

A number of oncologists elect to focus on chemotherapy as their main remedy for cancer. In a few extreme cases, both chemo and radiation are employed to reduce the cancers growing within a sufferer's body.

Whenever a growth may be easily taken out without harm to essential organs, a surgical oncologist can also be part of the treatment solution. Surgery is normally utilized if the growth has not spread very far from its initial region of growth, so cancer malignancy that has dispersed beyond its source is not as likely to be assisted through surgical treatment. Even with surgery, other treatments like chemo and radiation therapy might be utilized to battle the leftover cancer cells and stop additional growths.

The role of the oncology nurse may be just as vital as the role played by the medical oncologist who plans and performs cancer treatments. The nurse is the one who is constantly assessing the patient's progress, coordinating treatments, educating the patient and his family, and continuing to learn more and more about cancer through many hours of research on recent developments in the field.

An oncology nurse is one of the first medical professionals to meet with the newly diagnosed patient. At that first meeting, they will take his medical history, look at any lab results that have come into the office, and assess the patient's overall physical and emotional condition. Once treatment is begun, she'll assess the patient's physical and emotional state through the treatment and afterwards. This record allows the doctor to determine the best course of treatment and whether the current course needs to be adjusted.

Along with assessments, the oncology nurse is responsible for educating the patient and his family in the treatment that the patient will be receiving. She'll also explain the type of cancer he has and how this treatment will help.




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