Cancer Care Guide: Who Are the Doctors?

The diagnosis and treatment of cancer is complex and multiple healthcare professionals play a role in providing comprehensive care to patients.

Oncology physicians

Physicians are either medical doctors (MDs) or osteopathic doctors (OD) and many complete additional training in specific medical conditions, such as oncology. As cancer patients receive their diagnosis and then proceed through treatment, they may see more than one type of oncology physician. Often there are also other oncology specialists behind the scenes providing important services as well.

Medical oncologists are specialized internal medicine physicians and experts in treating cancer with chemotherapy. They care for patients from initial diagnosis through the course of the disease, discussing treatment options, managing pain and treatment side effects, and consulting with other physicians as needed.

Some oncologists specialize in specific types of cancer. The most common specialties are pediatric, gynecologic, and urologic cancers. Hematologists specialize in cancers of the blood (lymphoma and leukemia) and related tissues, such as bone marrow and lymph nodes.

Diagnosing cancer may require multiple diagnostic procedures. Radiation oncologists use x-rays or ultrasound, surgical oncologists remove tissue samples (biopsy,) and pathologists analyze results of lab tests and examine biopsy samples to determine the specific type and nature of a patient's cancer. Radiation oncologists and surgeons also treat cancer by administering radiation to kill cancer cells or surgically removing tumors when possible.

You should choose an oncologist who has experience caring for patients with your type of cancer. Specialists in less common cancers often practice in large cancer centers and medical teaching facilities, rather than community hospitals.

Multi-disciplinary teams

Cancer centers are moving towards a multi-disciplinary team approach to cancer care, which puts the patient at the center of a well-coordinated network of health professionals. A multi-disciplinary approach recognizes that cancer is more than a tumor; it's a disease that touches all aspects of patients' lives.

Multi-disciplinary cancer teams may include medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists; oncology nurses; a physician's assistant; oncology social worker; rehabilitation therapist; dietitian; and chaplain.

You'll likely interact most frequently with your oncology nurse. Oncology nurses provide patient education, coordinate and facilitate care, provide psychosocial support, and may administer chemotherapy. In fact, many cancer programs have designated specialists (who are usually nurses) called Patient Navigators. As the name implies, these professionals are there for patients (and their families) from diagnosis through post-treatment care, providing education, streamlining the process, securing additional patient resources when needed, advocating for the patient, and-most importantly-providing emotional support.

Sources:

National Cancer Institute. "How To Find a Doctor or Treatment Facility If You Have Cancer." Web.
29 June 2009. http://cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/doctor-facility

Cancer.net. "The Oncology Team." Web. April 2010.
http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+About+Cancer/Newly+Diagnosed/Find+an+Oncologist/The+Oncology+Team/The+Oncology+Team

Cancer.net. "ASCO Expert Corner: The Role of an Oncology Nurse." Web. 23 March 2010.
http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+About+Cancer/Cancer.Net+Feature+Articles/Expert+Information+from+ASCO/ASCO+Expert+Corner%3A+The+Role+of+an+Oncology+Nurse

Cancer.net. "Types of Oncologists." Web. May 2011.
http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+About+Cancer/Newly+Diagnosed/Find+an+Oncologist/Type

Should Your Gynecologist be Your Primary Care Physician?

Your obstetrician-gynecologist has been there for you through thick and thin: from your first contraception to your last baby; maybe even through menopause. But is she always the best choice as a primary care physician? Your gynecologist as your go-to-doctor-for-everything might not necessarily be a good idea.

A primary care physician (PCP) is your first line of defense when navigating the health care system. It's the doctor you see for most medical situations from sprains to the flu to routine physical exams. Primary care physicians can be doctors, nurse practitioners, or physician's assistants. They can be family practice doctors, internal medicine specialists, pediatricians, gynecologists, or experts in some other specialty. A gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in women's health and is often the only doctor a healthy woman needs. That is, until she has a medical condition that requires special care.

PCPs who see a wide range of patients (men, women, children, teenagers, adults, and seniors), including family practice physicians and internists, are likely to have frequent experience treating a wide variety of physical conditions and health problems. They consult and refer to a varied network of medical specialists when a patient has a condition that requires expertise. They also have their finger on the pulse of what's happening in the general health community. For example, if a patient calls and says she has a fever, body aches and a cough, a family practice provider may recognize this as "the virus that's going around." Or, she may say, "I've had a few patients lately with these symptoms and they've needed antibiotics."

While gynecologists can and do provide excellent general health care to women and have been trained in overall health, their focus is women's health and wellness, pregnancy, and diseases in reproductive organs, breasts, and the hormone system. They may not have the same bank of daily head-to-toe medical experience or network of specialists as another type of primary care physician. This could be dangerous if a patient has something the gynecologist doesn't commonly see. For example, if a patient sees her gynecologist for a nagging cough, the gynecologist may not think about the patient's allergy symptoms. Whereas a PCP who sees patients for all kinds of illnesses may recognize the patient needs to be evaluated for asthma.

Women who have no significant or ongoing health problems can safely get their healthcare needs met by their gynecologist. But if a medical condition crops up that's not specifically associated with women's health, it may be time to see a PCP. Ask your gynecologist, family, friends, and insurance network for a recommendation.

View the original article here

Should Your Gynecologist be Your Primary Care Physician?

Your obstetrician-gynecologist has been there for you through thick and thin: from your first contraception to your last baby; maybe even through menopause. But is she always the best choice as a primary care physician? Your gynecologist as your go-to-doctor-for-everything might not necessarily be a good idea.

A primary care physician (PCP) is your first line of defense when navigating the health care system. It's the doctor you see for most medical situations from sprains to the flu to routine physical exams. Primary care physicians can be doctors, nurse practitioners, or physician's assistants. They can be family practice doctors, internal medicine specialists, pediatricians, gynecologists, or experts in some other specialty. A gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in women's health and is often the only doctor a healthy woman needs. That is, until she has a medical condition that requires special care.

PCPs who see a wide range of patients (men, women, children, teenagers, adults, and seniors), including family practice physicians and internists, are likely to have frequent experience treating a wide variety of physical conditions and health problems. They consult and refer to a varied network of medical specialists when a patient has a condition that requires expertise. They also have their finger on the pulse of what's happening in the general health community. For example, if a patient calls and says she has a fever, body aches and a cough, a family practice provider may recognize this as "the virus that's going around." Or, she may say, "I've had a few patients lately with these symptoms and they've needed antibiotics."

While gynecologists can and do provide excellent general health care to women and have been trained in overall health, their focus is women's health and wellness, pregnancy, and diseases in reproductive organs, breasts, and the hormone system. They may not have the same bank of daily head-to-toe medical experience or network of specialists as another type of primary care physician. This could be dangerous if a patient has something the gynecologist doesn't commonly see. For example, if a patient sees her gynecologist for a nagging cough, the gynecologist may not think about the patient's allergy symptoms. Whereas a PCP who sees patients for all kinds of illnesses may recognize the patient needs to be evaluated for asthma.

Women who have no significant or ongoing health problems can safely get their healthcare needs met by their gynecologist. But if a medical condition crops up that's not specifically associated with women's health, it may be time to see a PCP. Ask your gynecologist, family, friends, and insurance network for a recommendation.

View the original article here

Should Your Gynecologist be Your Primary Care Physician?

Your obstetrician-gynecologist has been there for you through thick and thin: from your first contraception to your last baby; maybe even through menopause. But is she always the best choice as a primary care physician? Your gynecologist as your go-to-doctor-for-everything might not necessarily be a good idea.

A primary care physician (PCP) is your first line of defense when navigating the health care system. It's the doctor you see for most medical situations from sprains to the flu to routine physical exams. Primary care physicians can be doctors, nurse practitioners, or physician's assistants. They can be family practice doctors, internal medicine specialists, pediatricians, gynecologists, or experts in some other specialty. A gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in women's health and is often the only doctor a healthy woman needs. That is, until she has a medical condition that requires special care.

PCPs who see a wide range of patients (men, women, children, teenagers, adults, and seniors), including family practice physicians and internists, are likely to have frequent experience treating a wide variety of physical conditions and health problems. They consult and refer to a varied network of medical specialists when a patient has a condition that requires expertise. They also have their finger on the pulse of what's happening in the general health community. For example, if a patient calls and says she has a fever, body aches and a cough, a family practice provider may recognize this as "the virus that's going around." Or, she may say, "I've had a few patients lately with these symptoms and they've needed antibiotics."

While gynecologists can and do provide excellent general health care to women and have been trained in overall health, their focus is women's health and wellness, pregnancy, and diseases in reproductive organs, breasts, and the hormone system. They may not have the same bank of daily head-to-toe medical experience or network of specialists as another type of primary care physician. This could be dangerous if a patient has something the gynecologist doesn't commonly see. For example, if a patient sees her gynecologist for a nagging cough, the gynecologist may not think about the patient's allergy symptoms. Whereas a PCP who sees patients for all kinds of illnesses may recognize the patient needs to be evaluated for asthma.

Women who have no significant or ongoing health problems can safely get their healthcare needs met by their gynecologist. But if a medical condition crops up that's not specifically associated with women's health, it may be time to see a PCP. Ask your gynecologist, family, friends, and insurance network for a recommendation.

View the original article here

Should Your Gynecologist be Your Primary Care Physician?

Your obstetrician-gynecologist has been there for you through thick and thin: from your first contraception to your last baby; maybe even through menopause. But is she always the best choice as a primary care physician? Your gynecologist as your go-to-doctor-for-everything might not necessarily be a good idea.

A primary care physician (PCP) is your first line of defense when navigating the health care system. It's the doctor you see for most medical situations from sprains to the flu to routine physical exams. Primary care physicians can be doctors, nurse practitioners, or physician's assistants. They can be family practice doctors, internal medicine specialists, pediatricians, gynecologists, or experts in some other specialty. A gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in women's health and is often the only doctor a healthy woman needs. That is, until she has a medical condition that requires special care.

PCPs who see a wide range of patients (men, women, children, teenagers, adults, and seniors), including family practice physicians and internists, are likely to have frequent experience treating a wide variety of physical conditions and health problems. They consult and refer to a varied network of medical specialists when a patient has a condition that requires expertise. They also have their finger on the pulse of what's happening in the general health community. For example, if a patient calls and says she has a fever, body aches and a cough, a family practice provider may recognize this as "the virus that's going around." Or, she may say, "I've had a few patients lately with these symptoms and they've needed antibiotics."

While gynecologists can and do provide excellent general health care to women and have been trained in overall health, their focus is women's health and wellness, pregnancy, and diseases in reproductive organs, breasts, and the hormone system. They may not have the same bank of daily head-to-toe medical experience or network of specialists as another type of primary care physician. This could be dangerous if a patient has something the gynecologist doesn't commonly see. For example, if a patient sees her gynecologist for a nagging cough, the gynecologist may not think about the patient's allergy symptoms. Whereas a PCP who sees patients for all kinds of illnesses may recognize the patient needs to be evaluated for asthma.

Women who have no significant or ongoing health problems can safely get their healthcare needs met by their gynecologist. But if a medical condition crops up that's not specifically associated with women's health, it may be time to see a PCP. Ask your gynecologist, family, friends, and insurance network for a recommendation.

View the original article here

Should Your Gynecologist be Your Primary Care Physician?

Your obstetrician-gynecologist has been there for you through thick and thin: from your first contraception to your last baby; maybe even through menopause. But is she always the best choice as a primary care physician? Your gynecologist as your go-to-doctor-for-everything might not necessarily be a good idea.

A primary care physician (PCP) is your first line of defense when navigating the health care system. It's the doctor you see for most medical situations from sprains to the flu to routine physical exams. Primary care physicians can be doctors, nurse practitioners, or physician's assistants. They can be family practice doctors, internal medicine specialists, pediatricians, gynecologists, or experts in some other specialty. A gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in women's health and is often the only doctor a healthy woman needs. That is, until she has a medical condition that requires special care.

PCPs who see a wide range of patients (men, women, children, teenagers, adults, and seniors), including family practice physicians and internists, are likely to have frequent experience treating a wide variety of physical conditions and health problems. They consult and refer to a varied network of medical specialists when a patient has a condition that requires expertise. They also have their finger on the pulse of what's happening in the general health community. For example, if a patient calls and says she has a fever, body aches and a cough, a family practice provider may recognize this as "the virus that's going around." Or, she may say, "I've had a few patients lately with these symptoms and they've needed antibiotics."

While gynecologists can and do provide excellent general health care to women and have been trained in overall health, their focus is women's health and wellness, pregnancy, and diseases in reproductive organs, breasts, and the hormone system. They may not have the same bank of daily head-to-toe medical experience or network of specialists as another type of primary care physician. This could be dangerous if a patient has something the gynecologist doesn't commonly see. For example, if a patient sees her gynecologist for a nagging cough, the gynecologist may not think about the patient's allergy symptoms. Whereas a PCP who sees patients for all kinds of illnesses may recognize the patient needs to be evaluated for asthma.

Women who have no significant or ongoing health problems can safely get their healthcare needs met by their gynecologist. But if a medical condition crops up that's not specifically associated with women's health, it may be time to see a PCP. Ask your gynecologist, family, friends, and insurance network for a recommendation.

View the original article here