Everything You Need To Know About Medical Oncology Treatment
Medical oncology is a branch of medicine which deals with diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancer. A medical expert who practices medical oncology is called an oncologist. Here, we will explore various topics about medical oncology, such as what is medical oncology, how to prepare for medical oncology procedures, what are the diagnostic tests done in medical oncology, what are the complications of medical oncology procedures, who are the best medical oncologists in India, and which are the best hospitals for medical oncology procedures in India.
Reach out to world-class doctors for exceptional health care solutions
99
Table Of Index
What is medical oncology?
Medical oncology is a specialty of medicine which focuses on the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of cancer. The branch of medicine includes hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. A medical oncologist works with other doctors in order to create a treatment plan which is best for the patient. They explain cancer diagnosis to the patient, including the stage and type of the cancer. A medical oncologist will also help the patient manage their cancer symptoms and treatment side effects. An individual will generally see a medical oncologist after they have been diagnosed with cancer. This is generally the first step of a patient’s cancer journey.
Causes and Symptoms
Causes
- Smoking
- Drinking
- Excessive exposure to sun
- Obesity
- Diet
- Exposure to certain chemicals
- Genetics
- Radiation/ ultraviolet light
Symptoms
- Fever at night
- Skin changes
- Chronic tiredness
- Persistent pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Unexplained bleeding
- Unusual lump/swelling
Diagnosis
Laboratory tests: Laboratory tests, like blood and urine tests, will help the doctor detect abnormalities that may be caused by cancer. For example, in leukemia, a common blood test known as complete blood count might show an unusual type or number of white blood cells.
Physical exam: Your doctor may feel areas of your body for lumps that might indicate cancer. During physical examination, your doctor might look for any abnormalities, such as changes in the skin color and enlargement of an organ, which might indicate cancer.
Biopsy: In biopsy, the doctor collects a small sample of cells for evaluation in the laboratory. There are many ways of collecting the sample. The type of biopsy right for a patient will depend on their type of cancer as well as its location. In most cases, biopsy is the only way to confirm cancer.
Imaging tests: These tests allow the doctor to examine the bones as well as inteal organs in noninvasive ways. Imaging tests for diagnosing cancer might include a computerized tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging, bone scan, ultrasound, positron emission tomography scan and X-rays.
Risk & Complications
Vaginal bleeding: Some hormone therapies may lead to vaginal bleeding. It is common when a patient first begins hormone therapy, or if they switch from one treatment to another.
Weight gain/ loss: The patient might gain/ loss weight after or during medical oncology treatments. They can control this with exercise and diet. However, it may be difficult to reduce weight when the patient is having hormone treatment.
Tiredness: Tiredness (fatigue) is a common side effect of chemotherapy. Many people undergoing treatment feel tired easily doing everyday tasks.
Hair loss: Hair loss is a common complication of chemotherapy, although it doesn’t happen to everyone. If there is a hair loss, it generally begins in a few weeks of your first treatment session. It is common to see hair loss from the head. The hair loss is mostly temporary. The hair would begin to grow back after treatment has finished.
Infections: Chemotherapy can decrease the patient’s ability to fight infection. This makes them more prone to infections that may make them seriously ill.
Anemia: Chemotherapy may reduce your total amount of red blood cells, which helps carry oxygen in the body. If the red blood cell count reduces, a person develops anemia.
Preparation of Treatment
Aim to quit smoking as soon as possible before cancer treatment as smoke may raise the risk of complications after surgery. Involve in some exercises as it can build up strength to cope up with recovery and cut the risk of complications after cancer treatment. It is important to eat healthy food to help the body cope with the stress of cancer treatment, assist with your recovery and improve your strength. Avoid alcohol because it may affect how your body works and increase the risk of complications of cancer treatment, such as bleeding and infections. Tell your doctor what all medications you are currently taking. The doctor might ask you to stop some medications. If you are told to fast and take medicine, you should swallow it with small sips of water.
Treatment Option
Hormone therapy: Hormone therapy is a type of cancer treatment which slows or stops the growth of cancer that uses hormones to grow. Hormone therapy blocks, removes, or adds specific hormones to the body. It is also known as hormonal therapy, endocrine therapy or anti-hormonal therapy.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill or destroy cancer cells. This kind of cancer treatment works by preventing cancer cells from dividing and growing. Chemotherapy could be used as a treatment for several types of cancers. The doctor might refer to chemotherapy as traditional chemotherapy, standard chemotherapy, or cytotoxic chemotherapy.
Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment which makes use of drugs or other substances to precisely identify and destroy specific types of cancer cells. It can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, like standard chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.
Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy for cancer uses the body’s immune system to destroy cancer cells. There are different types of immunotherapies. All types work by training the immune system to fight cancer.
Cost of the treatment
Cost of medical oncology treatments
Cost of medical oncology procedures in India varies between $800 to $8000. Cost of medical oncology procedures in India depends on a number of factors, such as stage and type of cancer, type of treatment chosen, condition of the patient, type and location of the hospital, experience of medical oncologists, and others. Compared to other countries across the world, medical oncology treatment in India is less expensive. India is popular destination for international patients as the country boasts world-class medical facilities, top doctors and premier hospitals.
Recovery
Recovery after medical oncology procedures
How fast a patient recover after cancer treatment depends on the kind of procedure they had and their overall health. You might not feel like drinking or eating after most cancer treatment procedures. However, this forms an important part of the recovery process. The doctor will generally try to encourage you move around as soon as possible following the treatment. You need to walk or go to physical therapy to help your blood circulation and prevent blood clots. Eat healthy is vital for speedy recovery. Complete recovery after a cancer procedure may take around two months.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical oncology
Made in NextJs 13, by Digital Transformation Agency - Ima-appweb.com