What Is an Oncologist?

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.

Types of Oncologists

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:

• Explaining the diagnosis and stage of cancer
• Discussing treatment options
• Recommending an appropriate course of treatment
• Providing optimal care
• Improving quality of life by providing pain and symptom management

Oncologist Training and Education

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.

Where Do Oncologists Work?

The most common places oncologists work include, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, include:

• Doctors’ offices
• General medical and surgical hospitals
• Federal agencies (National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, etc.)
• Colleges, universities, and professional schools
• Outpatient care centers