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Types of Doctors - Oncologist

Oncologists are medical doctors who have specialized in diagnosing and treating cancer. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or are currently being diagnosed, you may have met with an oncologist already, or may have your first oncologist appointment coming up soon.

Doctors who specialize in oncology are concerned with diagnosing the exact type of cancer a patient has, and then developing a treatment program that is designed to treat the type and stage of cancer appropriately. Each facet of diagnosis and treatment relies on different types of technology, and involves the gathering of different types of information.

Throughout this process, a person with mesothelioma will likely meet several types of doctors and undergo different diagnostic and treatment procedures. The oncologist's job is partly to ensure that all of these different doctors and procedures are working towards the same end - to give the patient the best and most appropriate treatment possible.

Some oncologists specialize in particular areas of cancer treatment, such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Many specialize in certain types of cancer, including mesothelioma and other cancers such as lung cancer, colorectal cancer, or breast cancer.

Generally you will begin seeing an oncologist after receiving a referral from your general physician, who may be able to provide you with several different referrals. However, you may not always have the luxury of being able to choose an oncologist. This might depend on who your treating physician is, and other factors such as the hospital to which you are admitted.

Working with an Oncologist During Diagnosis

Depending on the nature of symptoms, you may not meet with an oncologist until partially through the diagnostic process. When you first meet with the oncologist, they may ask questions about symptoms, carry out a physical examination, and even collect a partial or full medical history.

During diagnosis you may also undergo procedures such as biopsy, blood tests, and medical imaging scans such as an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI scan. All of these tests are used to determine whether or not you have cancer or another asbestos-related disease, what type of cancer is involved, where the primary tumor is located, and the stage of cancer.

The oncologist will gather all this information and use it to determine the best course of treatment.

Working with an Oncologist During Treatment

During the treatment stage, an oncologist will use ongoing test results to determine what types of treatment are best. To do this, they will constantly re-evaluate your general health and the progression of the cancer within the body.

Having to undergo different diagnostic and treatment procedures can become very exhausting and it can often be a frightening process. Remember, that all of these procedures are essential to help you get the right treatment for your cancer. The types of treatments that will work for you is highly dependent on the type of cancer you have and the stage it is at, thus, it is very important that your oncologist have access to up-to-date information about your health.

Depending on a variety of factors, the oncologist may recommend treatment options such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. These three treatment options are the most commonly used in the treatment of mesothelioma cancer.

Oncologists will recommend some type of surgery, followed by a course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The type of chemotherapy and the dose you receive is carefully calculated by the oncologist according to factors such as your body weight, type of cancer, and stage of cancer.

Be Involved and Ask Questions

Do not forget that patients can ask their oncologist questions at any time. In general, the oncologist will clearly explain the different types of diagnostic and treatment procedures you will undergo, the reasons why you are having these procedures, the results of these procedures, as well as overall prognosis. If there are any aspects of the process or of your results that you don't understand, or would like more details about, do not hesitate to ask your oncologist for more information.

Diagnosis and treatment of asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma can be a very frightening for you and your family, and if you feel that getting more information about the process helps you feel more at ease, your oncologist will likely be willing to help in any way possible.

For information about other mesothelioma doctors, please see "Types of Doctors Involved in Treating Mesothelioma." To learn more about this type of cancer, please see "Mesothelioma Overview."

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