Oncology

Oncology is the specialized branch of medicine focusing on the study of cancer – a disease in which some cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. Oncology is divided into 3 main areas based on the treatments: medical oncology, radiation oncology, and surgical oncology. An oncologist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

When cells grow old or become damaged, normally they die, and new cells take their place. Sometimes abnormal or damaged cells grow and multiply when they shouldn’t. These cells can form tumors (lumps of tissue) that can be cancerous (malignant) or not cancerous (benign). Cancerous tumors spread into, or invade, nearby tissues and can travel to distant places in the body to form new tumors (a process called metastasis).

There are several different types of cancer including: carcinoma, sarcoma, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, melanoma, brain and spinal cord tumors.

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To learn more about a particular condition in the area of Oncology, click on that condition below.