Medical oncology is the study and treatment of malignant diseases and cancers. It is a subspecialty of internal medicine. In most cases, medical oncologists see patients who have already been diagnosed with cancer by a previous physician or specialist.
Medical oncology uses medical interventions to treat the cancer through a systemic approach—meaning that medicine travels throughout the body, unlike radiation and surgery which are directed to a single site. The type of medicine is determined by the particular cancer diagnosis, but it often includes chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy. While some medications are taken at home, most chemotherapy treatments are given by an IV in the physician’s office.
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