What Is an Oncologist?
A team of oncologists usually works together to treat cancer patients.
An oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating cancer.
Because cancer treatment often involves a combination of systemic therapy (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted treatments), surgery, and radiation, people with cancer are usually treated by a team of oncologists.
This team can include medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists, notes Cancer.Net.
Surgical Oncologists These doctors specialize in performing biopsies (in which tissue is removed to be tested for cancer) and performing surgery to remove cancerous tumors and surrounding tissue. They also perform surgery to remove cancerous tumors and surrounding tissue.
Radiation Oncologists These doctors specialize in treating cancer with radiation.
Gynecologic Oncologists These doctors focus on gynecologic cancers such as cervical and uterine cancer.
Pediatric Oncologists These doctors specialize in treating children with cancer.
Medical Oncologists These doctors treat cancer with systemic therapy, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.
Hematologist-Oncologists These doctors specialize in cancers of the blood, such as leukemia and lymphoma.
Together, a team of oncologists guides a patient through all phases of treatment by doing the following:
Oncologists must receive a bachelor’s degree, then complete four years of medical school to become a doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathy (DO).
After graduating from medical school, they must complete postgraduate medical education through internships and a residency program in internal medicine, which is typically another three years of paid work under supervision, per the American College of Physicians.
Then, for two to three additional years, they are broadly trained in all areas of oncology as a fellow.
Some oncologists go on to study a specific type of cancer, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, or lymphoma.
All medical doctors in the United States are required to be licensed in all states.
This means they must graduate from an accredited medical school and pass several stages of the United States Medical Licensing Examination, notes the American Medical Association.
The most common places oncologists work include, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, include:
©2025 sitename.com All rights reserved