Oncology is the branch of medicine which focuses on the surgical management of malignant neo plasms (cancer).

The most important diagnostic tool remains the medical history: the character of the complaints and any specific symptoms (fatigue,Weight loss, unexplained anemia, fever of unknown origin, paraneoplastic phenomena and other signs). Often a physical examination will reveal the location of a malignancy.

Diagnostic methods include:

• Biopsy, either incisional or excisional;
• Endoscopy, either upper or lower gastrointestinal, bronchoscopy, or nasendoscopy;
• X-rays, CT scanning, MRI scanning, ultrasound and other radiological techniques;
• Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, Positron emission tomography and other methods of nuclear medicine;
• Blood tests, including Tumor markers, which can increase the suspicion of certain types of tumors or even be pathognomonic of a particular disease.

Apart from in diagnosis, these modalities (especially imaging by CT scanning) are often used to determine operatability, i.e. whether it is surgically possible to remove a tumor in its entirety.

Generally, a “tissue diagnosis” (from a biopsy) is considered essential for the proper identification of cancer. When this is not possible, “empirical therapy” (without an exact diagnosis) may be given, based on the available evidence (e.g. history, x-rays and scans.)

Occasionally, a metastatic lump or pathological lymph node is found (typically in the neck) for which a primary tumor cannot be found. This situation is referred to as “carcinoma of unknown primary”, and again, treatment is empirical based on past experience of the most likely origin.

Types of cancers include:

• Brain cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Uterine cancer
• Liver cancer
• Leukemia
• Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Kidney cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Skin cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Thyroid cancer

Specialities include,

• Radiation Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Medical Oncology
• Paediatric Oncology

Treatment also varies based on the type of cancer and its stage. The stage of a cancer refers to how much it has grown and whether the tumor has spread from its original location.

• If the cancer is confined to one location and has not spread, the goal for treatment would be surgery and cure. This is often the case with skin cancers.
• If the tumor has spread to local lymph nodes only, sometimes these can also be removed.

If all of the cancer cannot be removed with surgery, the options for treatment include radiation, chemotherapy, or both. Some cancers require a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.