Plaguing the world at any given moment, Cancer has a barrage of detrimental types, including lung and breast cancer. Additionally, it is so detrimental that it is responsible for every sixth death or over 9,600,000 lives per year (Roser and Ritchie). Furthermore, because of the increasing life expectancy over the past century, there has been an increase in deaths caused by cancer due to cancer specialization and biology being suitable for especially vulnerable individuals. In addition, although there is no cure for cancer, there are treatments like radiation therapy, chemotherapy, drug treatment, and the removal of tumors. Even several millenniums before today, ancient surgeons had figured that cancer would likely come back after it was surgically removed. For example, physician Celsus had written "After excision, even when a scar has formed, nonetheless the disease has returned.” Even as contemporary medicine had begun to accumulate, cancer treatment lingered in evolution until the 19th century after the finding of anesthesia, which eased the process of surgery and pain management (National Institute of General Medical Sciences). As more radical surgeries began to form over the 19th century, radical mastectomy began as a surgery to remove the whole breast, lymph nodes, and wall muscles under the breast to remove the cancerous cells. However, radical mastectomy has extensive effects on the body. As time progressed, humans looked for more efficient ways to remove the cancers through oncology, which is the study of tumors and prevention of cancers. Essentially, Oncologists partake in many treatments and specializations to treat patients throughout the disease, may help treat other fields like the circulatory field, need to have in-depth expertise and training in cancer, can help test unusual growth, and treat cancer.
Before delving into the works of an Oncologist, the detrimental nature of cancer and the necessity of treatment and prevention should be made in more detail. The cause of the disease is both genetics and environmental pollution because there are specific genetic strands that determine whether or not someone is likely to receive cancer and because certain lethal chemicals in the environment may trigger cancerous cells to replicate and form (Nazario, 2021). The symptoms of the disease are dichotomous as there are numerous types of cancer, but the predominant symptoms are fatigue, lumps or uneven dark skin patches, eating problems, weight loss, bloody stool, bowel changes, bladder changes, and fever or night sweats (Nazario, 2021). Additionally, cancer is predominantly transmitted from contamination or heredity from predecessors or genetically-close relatives (Nazario, 2021). Overall, Cancer affects homeostasis by instigating tumors that crowd space for healthy cells, obstructing body functions, and depriving tissues of essential nutrients as the cancerous cells utilize them.
However, Oncologists partake in effective treatment methods. For example, before assuring that the patient has obtained cancer, they must confirm the initial diagnosis to predict the prognosis of cancer. Furthermore, the prognosis almost directly delves into the stage and diagnosis of cancer because there are various stages of cancer, consisting of Stage 0 cancer, which means that there are abnormal cells that can potentially become cancer, Stage 1 cancer, which means that cancer is focused only in one small area, Stage 2 and 3, which mean that cancer has spread to nearby tissues, and Stage 4, which means that cancer has spread to other parts of the body (Langmaid). Subsequently, the doctor can partake in treatment plans and give recommendations. The treatment plans can consist of either surgery, which will attempt to remove tumors or cancer cells; chemotherapy, which uses drugs to kill the cancer cells; and radiation, which is the use of energized particles to destroy cancer cells.
However, Oncologists do not only specialize in the treatment of cancers but, also, in blood disorders. For example, Anemia, which is a condition that is caused by red blood cell deduction, can be treated by an oncologist through the testing of hemoglobin and iron in the body and prescribed medications. Furthermore, deadly genetic diseases like Sickle cell disease can be treated because they affect circulation. Furthermore, thrombosis can also be treated, although it is when the blood vessels are blocked due to excessive blood clots.
To become an Oncologist, there are of course the necessities of medical doctors' medical schooling. Subsequently, the provisional Oncologist must partake in a two to five-year residency program (FMG Portal). They must receive a medical license and be certified from board exams. After having a medical license, they could complete either a fellowship program or a graduate program in oncology. Concerned by the severity of cancer, you may begin to question the existence of unusual growth or lumps in areas throughout your body. However, Oncologists can truly determine whether or not the lumps are cancerous, whereas Doctor's offices usually don't have the equipment to diagnose a cancerous tumor. This will allow you to stay safe and ensure your health. Furthermore, this may allow you to think of the broader spectrum of diseases and the need for regular checkups. Essentially, Oncologists will be one of our hopes in the broad-scale treatment of Cancer, the disease that has and is continuing to plague the Earth.
Works Cited
FMG Portal. “Residency Specialty Spotlight: Oncology.” FMG-Portal, https://fmgportal.com/residency-specialty-spotlight-oncology/. Accessed 27 August 2022.
Langmaid, Stephanie. “The Stages of Cancer According to the TNM System.” WebMD, 8 March 2021, https://www.webmd.com/cancer/cancer-stages. Accessed 27 August 2022.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences. “Anesthesia.” National Institute of General Medical Sciences, 21 July 2022, https://www.nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/anesthesia.aspx. Accessed 27 August 2022.
Nazario, Brunilda. “Chemotherapy for Cancer: How It Works, Chemo Side Effects & FAQs.” WebMD, 8 February 2021, https://www.webmd.com/cancer/chemotherapy-what-to-expect. Accessed 27 August 2022.
Roser, Max, and Hannah Ritchie. “Cancer.” Our World in Data, 2019, https://ourworldindata.org/cancer. Accessed 27 August 2022.
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