Physician

Oncology is a common subspecialty medical practice which includes a broad scope of physicians that treat patients with cancer. Some of the type of physicians who practice in this area include medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons, and pathologists. In order to specialize in one of the fields, more years of training are required. Physicians are responsible for diagnosing and treating patients, doing physical examinations and using different imaging tools such as x-rays or CAT scans to determine the best treatment for each patient. Some treatment approaches may include surgery, hormone therapy, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. It is important for physicians to build a strong rapport between themselves and the patient. Many physicians also conduct research in hopes of finding new methods of treating cancer patients.