Presbyterian Healthcare 
Cancer Treatments
Medical Oncology
| Medical oncology is a specialty of internal medicine that deals with the diagnosis and management of treating cancer. |
Medical oncologists have knowledge of all aspects of cancer treatment including chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, biological therapy and hormone therapy.
With this comprehensive base of knowledge, a medical oncologist oversees patient care while consulting with other cancer specialists (surgeons and radiation oncologists) to determine the best combination of treatment options.
Medical oncologists will also prescribe drugs for treatment, determine the dosage and how often they should be taken. They are also experts in pain management and have options to help treat side effects from chemotherapy. In addition to the physical treatments, a medical oncologist also considers the patient's psychological and social needs and will make referrals to appropriate support services.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses the body's immune system, either directly or indirectly, to fight cancer or to lessen side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments the use of anticancer drugs to treat cancerous cells. In most cases, chemotherapy works by interfering with the cancer cells ability to grow or reproduce. Different groups of drugs work in different ways to fight cancer cells.
Biological Therapy
Biological therapy uses the body's immune system, either directly or indirectly, to fight cancer or to lessen side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments.
Hormonal Therapy
Hormone therapy is treatment with hormones, with drugs that interfere with hormone production or hormone action, or the surgical removal of hormone-producing glands. Hormone therapy may kill cancer cells or slow their growth.
