What is Medical Oncology?

A medical oncology specialist graduates from medical school and then receives 4 years of internal medicine training. After that, they undergo 2-3 years of specialized training in medical oncology. During this period, they learn to diagnose, treat, and monitor cancer patients.

You should consult a medical oncology specialist in the following situations:

• If you have suspicions about cancer
• If there is a family history of cancer
• If you have risk factors for cancer (smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, etc.)
• If you have symptoms related to cancer (persistent cough, weight loss, difficulty swallowing, etc.)
• If you have been diagnosed with cancer

The consultation process with a medical oncology specialist includes the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of cancer. First, the specialist reviews the patient's medical history and family background. Then, they listen to the patient's complaints and perform a physical examination.

If there is suspicion of cancer, the specialist requests the necessary tests to diagnose the disease. After diagnosis, the specialist determines the appropriate treatment method based on the patient’s condition.

During the treatment process, the medical oncology specialist stays by the patient’s side and monitors all aspects of the treatment. After treatment, the specialist regularly follows up on the patient’s condition and takes necessary precautions.

Medical oncology specialists use various methods in the treatment of cancer. These include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.

Before meeting with a medical oncology specialist, the following should be considered:

• The patient's medical history and family history should be prepared before the meeting.
• During the meeting, it is important for the patient to explain their complaints and symptoms in detail.
• After the meeting, it is necessary to follow the medical oncology specialist's recommendations and continue the treatment process regularly.

After meeting with a medical oncology specialist, the patient's treatment process continues. During the treatment, the medical oncology specialist supports the patient and takes necessary precautions to protect the patient's health.

After treatment, the patient's condition is regularly monitored and necessary measures are taken. The medical oncology specialist takes all necessary precautions to protect the patient's health and ensures that the patient continues to live healthily.

The primary duty of the medical oncology specialist is to diagnose, treat, and monitor cancer disease. Additionally, running cancer screening programs for early detection of cancer is also among the responsibilities of the medical oncology specialist.

Cancer screening programs enable early diagnosis of cancer and increase the chance of treatment. Medical oncology specialists help in the early diagnosis of cancer by conducting cancer screening programs.

Chemotherapy is a treatment method used to prevent the growth and spread of cancer cells. While targeting cancer cells, chemotherapy can also affect healthy cells. Therefore, the patient’s health status is closely monitored during chemotherapy.

Radiotherapy is a treatment method that uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. While targeting cancer cells, radiotherapy can damage healthy cells. Therefore, the patient’s health status is closely monitored during radiotherapy.

Immunotherapy is a treatment method aimed at destroying cancer cells by strengthening the immune system. In this method, the body’s own defense mechanism is used to target cancer cells.

Targeted therapy is a treatment method that uses drugs aimed at blocking the growth and spread of cancer cells. In this method, proteins that promote the growth of cancer cells are targeted to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.