You will likely be referred to an oncologist if your doctor suspects that you have the disease. Your primary care physician may carry out tests to determine if you might have cancer. If there are any signs of cancer, your doctor may recommend visiting an oncologist as soon as possible.
Can you be referred to oncology and not have cancer?
Patients with blood disorders are treated by hematologists and many oncologists are also board-certified to practice hematology. So even though you don’t have cancer, you may be treated by a physician who specializes in both cancer and blood disorders.
What does an oncologist check for?
Oncologists are doctors who diagnose and treat cancer. They often act as the main healthcare provider for someone with cancer—designing treatment plans, offering supportive care, and sometimes coordinating treatment with other specialists.
What happens when you see an oncologist for the first time?
Your initial oncology appointment may include:
A comprehensive meeting and evaluation with your WVCI oncologist – a cancer specialist. A meeting with your oncology nurse and other members of your cancer care team. Additional tests for an accurate diagnosis to help guide your personalized cancer treatment plan.
What does an oncology referral mean?
Physicians and dentists generally send those patients with suspected or confirmed cancer to oncologists*. These referrers can be primary care doctors, gynecologists, endocrinologists, pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, otolaryngologists, dermatologists and others.
Will a doctor tell you if they suspect cancer?
Doctors need the information about grade and stage to plan your treatment. It may take a few days before your doctor has the results of all the tests. They will then be able to tell you whether you have cancer, and talk with you about your treatment options.
Why would my Dr refer me to an oncologist?
You will likely be referred to an oncologist if your doctor suspects that you have the disease. Your primary care physician may carry out tests to determine if you might have cancer. If there are any signs of cancer, your doctor may recommend visiting an oncologist as soon as possible.
Do oncologists do biopsies?
A surgical oncologist may be one of the first doctors you see if your primary care physician suspects that you have cancer. Surgical oncologists often perform biopsies, removing a small section of tissue so it can be checked for cancer cells.
What does oncology mean in medical terms?
Listen to pronunciation. (on-KAH-loh-jee) A branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Why do I have an appointment with oncology?
You will meet with an oncologist — a doctor focused on the study, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The oncologist will help you overcome the effects of the condition and live a normal life. It is helpful to be ready for your initial meeting and what will occur in the coming weeks of your treatment.
Do oncologists treat benign tumors?
Unlike malignant tumors, a benign tumor is not cancerous and will not spread to other nearby tissues. In many cases, a person with a benign tumor will not suffer significant health effects. If the tumor lies on a critical organ or structure, the oncologist may need to remove or treat it.
How do I prepare for my first oncologist appointment?
At the appointment, ask this:
- What kind of cancer do I have?
- What stage is it?
- Do I have to undergo any further diagnostic tests before we can begin treatment?
- Should I see a specialist?
- What are my treatment options?
- Which treatment or combination of treatments would you recommend and why?
Is oncology the same as chemotherapy?
Medical oncologists treat cancer using medication, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. Radiation oncologists treat cancer using radiation therapy, which is the use of high-energy x-rays or other particles to destroy cancer cells.
What is the 2 week rule?
What is a ‘Two Week Wait’ referral? A ‘Two Week Wait’ referral is a request from your General Practitioner (GP) to ask the hospital for an urgent appointment for you, because you have symptoms that might indicate that you have cancer.
What does an urgent referral mean?
An urgent referral is one way that your doctor can refer you to hospital. It means that you have symptoms that could be due to cancer, although they are usually due to other conditions.
How long does a cancer referral take?
no more than 2 months (62 days) wait between the date the hospital receives an urgent referral for suspected cancer and the start of treatment. no more than 31 days wait between the meeting at which you and your doctor agree the treatment plan and the start of treatment.
How does your body feel if you have cancer?
A cancer can grow into,or begin to push on nearby organs, blood vessels, and nerves. This pressure causes some of the signs and symptoms of cancer. A cancer may also cause symptoms like fever, extreme tiredness (fatigue), or weight loss. This may be because cancer cells use up much of the body’s energy supply.
Can you have cancer and feel fine?
Also, the idea itself of a single miracle cure is a myth, as dozens of different types of cancers each respond differently to treatment. 7. Cancer is always a painful disease, so if you feel fine, you don’t have cancer. Many types of cancer cause little to no pain, especially in the early stages.
When should you visit an oncologist?
A healthy individual may visit Oncologist once in 2 years to check the presence of any cancerous cells in his/her body. A patient who is diagnosed with cancer should consult an Oncologist once in 3-4 months or as directed by the doctor.
What questions should I ask my first oncologist?
Having said that, here are some things that are helpful to discuss during your first appointment:
- What is my diagnosis and how soon do I need to start therapy?
- What are my treatment options, what’s involved, and how long will each treatment take?
- What are the benefits of the recommended treatment?
Does an oncologist do surgery?
The most common procedures performed by surgical oncologists are biopsies and surgery for cancerous growth removal. They can also perform surgery to stage cancer and determine how far cancer has spread. In certain circumstances, surgical oncologists may also perform preventive surgeries.
