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Our 24/7 cancer helpline provides information and answers for people dealing with cancer. We can connect you with trained cancer information specialists who will answer questions about a cancer diagnosis and provide guidance and a compassionate ear.
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Our highly trained specialists are available 24/7 via phone and on weekdays can assist through online chat. We connect patients, caregivers, and family members with essential services and resources at every step of their cancer journey. Ask us how you can get involved and support the fight against cancer. Some of the topics we can assist with include:
For medical questions, we encourage you to review our information with your doctor.
Oncology is the study of cancer. The word comes from the Greek word for tumor or mass. The medical field of oncology covers cancer research, risk and prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
Specialists trained in oncology provide care for people who are at risk for cancer, being treated for cancer, and living with cancer after treatment. Together, these specialists might be called a cancer care team.
There are specialized areas of oncology care, too. Some examples include:
An oncologist is a physician (medical doctor) who specializes in cancer. An oncologist leads a cancer care team in the care of people with cancer. Oncologists may:
Many oncologists focus on specialty areas based on how cancer is treated:
There are also oncologists who specialize in caring for specific groups of patients or types of cancers. Here are some examples:
If you have been diagnosed with cancer. When a person is diagnosed with cancer, they will likely be referred to a medical oncologist.
If cancer is suspected. In some cases, a surgical oncologist might be the first specialist a patient sees. Sometimes when cancer is suspected but not diagnosed, an oncologist might also be involved. Some people with blood disorders that may or may not be cancerous might be referred to a hematologist oncologist.
After you have completed cancer treatment. Many people will continue seeing their oncologist for follow-up appointments to check for signs of cancer coming back and to manage any side effects from treatment. Over time, these visits are often needed less often. You might also go back to only seeing your primary care doctor or other health care provider.
In addition to oncologists, specially trained oncology nurses may give chemotherapy or other treatments, help manage symptoms and side effects, and provide patient education and support. Other health care professionals also provide specialized care and support for people with cancer, including radiologists, pathologists, social workers, councilors, dietitians, and many more. To learn more about who might be on your cancer care team, see Health Professionals Who Are Part of a Cancer Care Team.
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Types of oncologists. 2021. Accessed at cancer.net on April 12, 2024.
National Cancer Institute (NCI). What is oncology? Accessed at https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/oncology on April 12, 2024.
Last Revised: June 25, 2024
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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