Overview
Oncology is a subspecialty of internal medicine concerned with diagnosing and treating benign and malignant tumors and other forms of cancer. It was originally a part of hematology and, in some training programs, these two disciplines are still taught together. Oncologists typically identify individuals at risk for malignancy and counsel them regarding risk reduction and screening, investigate clinical symptoms and syndromes suggestive of underlying malignancy, undertake the palliative care of patients with solid and hematologic tumors, identify neoplasms with a potential for cure, and manage appropriately. They administer chemotherapy for malignancy and work with surgeons and radiotherapists on other treatments for cancer. They often see patients who are seriously ill and require extensive treatment. Although the specialty is mainly office-based, oncologists provide a significant amount of consultation and primary inpatient care.