Frequently Asked Questions

A radiation oncologist specializes in the effective usage of radiation therapy for cancer management. Radiation oncologists form an integral part of the multi-modality tumour board meetings to ensure appropriate usage of this therapeutic option is provided to all patients in a tertiary care centre. Hence these days, all hospitals that provide comprehensive treatment for cancer, mandatorily need to include a radiation oncology department for effective management and treatment of different types of cancers.

Radiation oncology is a field of medicine in which the physician uses high energy focused conformal radiation beams to treat cancer. Commonly known as radiotherapy, it encompasses the use of X-rays, Gamma rays &/or particle beams to target cancer cells and destroys them. It is one of the most common forms of cancer treatment and can be used both as a standalone treatment as well as with other therapeutic options such as chemotherapy and surgery. Most cancers these days require a multi-modality treatment approach to give the best chance of cure. With many advancements in the field of Radiation Oncology, the treatment has become much more effective while the side effects have become almost negligible.

A medical oncologist is usually a doctor who provides treatment and medical care to a person diagnosed with cancer using chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. These doctors are involved in patient care and management throughout the course of the disease. The role of a medical oncologist also includes - Explaining the procedure of diagnosis, available treatment and the stages of cancer. Ensuring compassion and quality care. Assisting patients in managing the symptoms and the side effects of cancer and its treatment.

There are different types of treatments used in medical oncology. These include - Chemotherapy - This involves using different types of drugs for cancer treatment that work towards stopping or slowing down their growth. This type of therapy is generally used to treat recurrent or metastatic cancers (cancer cells that spread to other parts of the body). Chemotherapy drugs are usually administered orally, intravenously or injected directly into the fluid surrounding the brain or the abdominal cavity. Hormone Therapy - Hormone-dependent or hormone-sensitive cancers are treated using this therapy. Hormone cancers usually use hormones for their growth. Cancers such as breast and ovarian cancers are typical examples of hormone cancers. Therefore, hormone therapy uses medicines to stop or decrease the production of hormones in the body and stops the growth of cancer cells. Targeted Therapy - This is an advanced cancer treatment that uses drugs to target the specific proteins and genes related to cancer growth. These drugs stop or restrict the spread of cancer cells inside the body. Immunotherapy - It is an innovative medical oncological procedure that uses the body’s immune cells to restrict the growth of cancer cells. In this procedure, the body’s immune mechanism is activated to destroy the infected cells and improve the functioning of the immune system.

Majorly two types of tumours are treated under medical oncology. These include malignant and benign tumours. While malignant tumours are cancerous, benign tumours are harmless and do not spread to the other parts of the body. These tumours continue to grow until their progress is stopped using different types of treatments such as medical oncology, surgical procedures, and radiation therapy.

Medical Oncology is a type of cancer care that uses different types of therapies such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy for the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors. This type of treatment works effectively when combined with other types of cancer therapies such as radiation and surgical oncology.

Surgical oncology is used to treat most types of cancers including - Breast cancer Colorectal cancer Pancreatic cancer Liver cancer Cancer of the head and neck Lung cancer Ovarian cancer.

There are several risks in surgical oncology. These include - Pain Bleeding Infection Delayed healing of the wound.

As surgical oncology is the first line of treatment, it can be used to treat most types of cancers including breast cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, head and neck cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, etc.

The effectiveness of the cancer treatment is dependent on its stage. Therefore, every doctor recommends early diagnosis of cancer as it ensures that cancer cells and affected tissues are removed effectively and timely care is provided.