DR SANKAR SRINIVASAN

Who is an oncologist?

An oncologist is a physician who specializes in treating cancer and provides medical care for a person diagnosed with cancer.  

The role of an oncologist is to:

• Explaining the cancer diagnosis and stage.
• Talk about all treatment options and the preferred choice
• Deliver quality as well as compassionate care
• Help a patient manage the symptoms and side effects of cancer and its treatment.

Do pediatric oncologists perform surgery?

Rather than using surgery or radiation therapy to treat cancer, pediatric oncologists typically use medicines and chemotherapy. Since pediatric oncologists treat kids and teens, their focus is somewhat different from that of medical oncologists who treat adults.

What kind of tests do oncologists do?

• Barium Enema: It used to find health conditions in the colon and rectum.
• Biopsy: A tissue sample is used to diagnose cancer
• Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy: They can provide information about blood cells.
• Bone Scan: This is used to find cancer or see how well treatment is working.
• Breast MRI: An imaging test used to look at breast tissue.
• Colonoscopy: To view a part of the large intestine
• Complete Blood Count Tests: To test red blood cells.
• Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: It's a type of imaging test used to find and learn more about cancer.
• Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): It is used to check the lower rectum, pelvis, and lower belly.
• EKG and Echocardiogram: Tests to find problems with the heart muscle, valves, or heart rhythm.
• Several types of Endoscopy to view the inside of the body
• Fecal Occult Blood Tests to find blood in the stool
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) which is done without using x-rays
• Mammography, an x-ray, which checks for breast cancer.
• Ultrasound for finding out a tumor's location in the body.
• Tumor Marker Tests to look for substances made by cells in the body in response to cancer.
• Upper Endoscopy to examine the esophagus, stomach, and top of the small intestine.

What are the diseases that oncologists treat?

Oncologists treat several types of cancers such as Stomach (Gastric) Cancer, Skin Cancer, Lymphoma, Bladder Cancer, Breast Cancer, Brain Tumor, Pancreatic Cancer etc.

What is the difference between a hematologist and an oncologist?

Hematology represents the branch of internal medicine concerned with illness and conditions of the blood and systems directly related to blood such as bone marrow and lymph nodes. These include clotting disorders, anemia and various defects of the bone marrow and white blood cells. They also treat cancers of the blood and lymph nodes which include Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and different forms of leukemia. Oncology is also the branch of internal medicine, but it is all about diagnosing and treating cancers. Surgical oncologists and radiation oncologists remove cancers physically or destroy them with radiation. Medical oncologists administer chemotherapy and other forms of medication as part of their treatment. Medical oncologists are usually responsible for diagnosing cancer and determining its type and extent, and they'll coordinate a patient's care in collaboration with surgeons and other practitioners.

What are the different types of oncologists?

Medical, surgical, and radiation are the three major areas of oncology.

• A medical oncologist treats cancer using chemotherapy or other medications like targeted therapy or immunotherapy.
• A surgical oncologist is a surgeon specialized in removing the tumor and nearby tissue during surgery. The physician also performs certain types of biopsies that help to diagnose cancer.
• A radiation oncologist treats cancer using radiation therapy such as Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT).

Other types of oncologists include:

• A gynecologic oncologist, who diagnoses and treats gynecologic cancers, such as uterine, ovarian, and cervical cancers.
• A pediatric oncologist, who treats cancer in children.
• Hematologist-oncologist diagnoses, who diagnoses and treats blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.

Does health insurance cover cancer in India?

Yes, there are general cancer insurance products in India that cover most forms of cancer, at both early and advanced stages, affecting both men and women, providing the insured financial and mental security in the case of a cancer diagnosis.