What is a medical oncologist?
A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer using chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and biological therapy. A medical oncologist often is the main health care provider for someone who has cancer. A medical oncologist also may coordinate treatment provided by other specialists.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy (also referred to as cyto-toxic therapy) is the use of anti-cancer drugs to treat cancerous cells. Chemotherapy reaches all part of the body, not just the cancer cells. The oncologist will recommend a treatment plan for each individual. Specific treatment will be based on:
your overall health and medical history
your age and whether you are menstruating
the type and stage of the cancer
your tolerance for specific medications and procedures
expectations for the course of the disease
your opinion or preference
The oncologist will also determine how long and how often you will have chemotherapy treatments. Chemotherapy can be administered intravenously (in the vein) or by pill, and is usually a combination of drugs. Chemotherapy treatments are often given in cycles; a treatment for a period of time, followed by a recovery period, then another treatment. Chemotherapy may be given in a variety of settings including your home, a hospital outpatient facility, a physician’s office or clinic, or in a hospital.