An oncologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing and treating cancer.
A primary care healthcare provider will typically refer an individual to an oncologist if they suspect the person may have cancer, often after using diagnostic tests and tools.
There are different types of oncologists, including medical, radiation, preventative medicine, surgical, and palliative medicine. Oncologists may also specialize in certain types of cancers.
Witthaya Prasongsin / Getty Images
Getting an Oncologist Referral
If you have signs of cancer or a diagnosis of cancer, your healthcare provider is likely to give you a referral to see an oncologist.
Choosing an oncologist is an important decision. Ask the healthcare provider who gave you the referral if you need to find one right away or if you can take some time to consider your options.
Some strategies to consider while choosing an oncologist include:
Talk to your healthcare provider: Ask the healthcare provider who found or suspects your cancer for recommendations. Ask for two or three names and what their specialties are. Don’t be afraid to ask, “If you or someone you loved were in my situation, whom would you go to for treatment?”
Talk to people in your area who are getting treatment or have been treated for the type of cancer you have: Do you know anyone who has had a good experience with a specific oncologist? Has anyone had a negative experience that might make you reconsider seeing that oncologist?
Check for physician referral services: Some hospitals and communities have physician referral services (by phone or online) that help you learn more about physicians in your area, their expertise, medical certifications, languages spoken, office locations, and more. You can find these referral services by calling the main number of a hospital or cancer center or visiting their websites.
Check your health insurance: If you have health insurance, you can check the names you are considering against their list of network doctors (usually online or by calling the member services hotline).
When you have names of oncologists that might be a good fit for you:
Call their offices and ask if they are on your health insurance plan and taking new patients.
Find out which hospitals and cancer centers they work in and where they can admit patients.
If you can (and your insurance covers it), set up initial appointments with a few of the oncologists you are considering. (If you can’t set up appointments with multiple oncologists, you can ask their offices any questions you may have over the phone.)
Get a second opinion if you want one, even if you are already with an oncologist.
An oncologist is trained to investigate, diagnose, and treat people who have cancer or are suspected of having cancer. An oncologist manages the care of the person with cancer throughout the disease, starting with a diagnosis.
Roles an oncologist may take include:
Diagnosing cancer
Explaining the diagnosis and cancer stage
Discussing, recommending, and creating treatment plan options
Carrying out or overseeing treatment
Evaluating how the cancer is responding to treatment
Coordinating care with other members of the person’s cancer care team
Providing follow-up care after completion of treatment
Contributing to cancer research, health education, teaching, and ethics
There are several types of oncologists, and a person may be under the care of more than one during the course of their illness and treatment. A medical oncologist is often the main doctor for a person with cancer. This type of oncologist often makes the diagnosis. A medical oncologist treats cancer with drugs and can help manage side effects from chemotherapy treatments.
The first appointment with an oncologist may involve:
A review of your medical history, symptoms, and health
An examination
Ordering tests
Meeting other cancer care team members
Some discussion of what treatment and recovery could look like
Answering any questions you have (it is helpful to write them down ahead of time so you don’t miss any during the appointment)
Subspecialties and Associated Team Members
The three main types of oncologists are:
Medical oncologists: Administer medicines (such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunology) to treat cancer
Surgical oncologists: Remove tumors through surgery, and take tissue samples for biopsy testing
Radiation oncologists: Apply radiation (radiotherapy) to treat cancer
Other types of oncologists include:
Pediatric oncologists: Treat cancer in children and teens
Geriatric oncologists: Work with people aged 65 and older who have cancer
Gynecologic oncologists: Treat cancers in reproductive organs such as the uterus, cervix, ovaries, vagina, vulva, and fallopian tubes
Hematologist oncologists: Treat blood cancers (such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma)
Breast oncologists: Treat breast cancers (in all genders)
Neuro-oncologists: Treat cancers of the brain, spine, and nervous system
Urologic oncologists: Treat cancers of the genitourinary system, such as kidneys, prostate gland, bladder, penis, and testicles
Thoracic oncologists: Treat cancers inside the chest area, lungs, and esophagus
Colorectal oncologists: Treat cancers affecting the bowel, colon, and rectum
Head and neck oncologist: Treat cancers in the head and neck area
Dermatologic oncologists: Treat cancers affecting the skin
Cardio-oncologists: Help treat and manage care for people who have cancer and a heart condition
General Oncologists vs. Ones That Treat Specialty Types of Cancer
All oncologists have an area of focus, but a medical oncologist is often the main healthcare provider for a person with cancer. They may also give supportive care and coordinate treatment with other specialists.
Some oncologists limit their services to specific types of cancers, such as lung, breast, colorectal, or prostate. This can be advantageous if you have a rare type of cancer or a cancer that is difficult to treat.
The National Cancer Institute has a database of cancer types where you can find information on specific types of cancers.
How to Vet Oncologists Near You
Consider what you want from your oncologist. This may include:
Experience treating your type of cancer, proper credentials, and up-to-date knowledge of the latest standards, guidelines, and research
Privileges (practices) at a hospital or cancer center you are willing to visit
Participation in your health insurance plan
The knowledge that they are someone you feel comfortable with in terms of what is important to you (confidence in their abilities, the sense that they support you, the way they communicate with you, etc.)
Depending on the type of oncologist, how many surgeries they have performed, what their success rate is, and how they define “success”
Questions you may want to ask the oncologist about their care include:
How long have they been in practice?
How many people with your type of cancer have they treated?
How many of the type of surgery or procedures you are considering have they done?
How many people are they currently treating, and how many are people with cancer?
Are they or their practice involved in medical studies (clinical trials) of new treatments?
Who else will be on your cancer care team?
What are their office hours?
How can you get help after hours, on weekends, or on holidays?
Who will see you when your oncologist is away?
The American Cancer Society recommends some questions you can ask to determine how comfortable you feel with the oncologist. Did the oncologist:
Give you a chance to ask questions?
Listen to you?
Seem comfortable answering your questions?
Make you feel respected and respect what is important to you?
Speak to you in a way you could understand?
Spend enough time with you?
Mention treatment options and ask about your preferences?
If you are willing and able to travel, you can research the leading specialists in the field that is most specific to your needs and see if care from them is a possibility.
Looking for research published by an oncologist is another way to learn more about their approach to treatment.
Oncologists who are affiliated with respected medical schools may have contacts who are medical experts around the country and may know more about the latest treatments.
The American Cancer Society also offers a list of questions and a worksheetwhich can help when choosing a hospital or cancer center.
The Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States offers a search tool you can use to verify a doctor’s license.
Oncology Training and Education
Board-certified doctors have had extra training in specific areas, such as medical oncology. Board certified doctors:
Have taken and passed a certification test approved by doctors in their field
Must continue to keep up with advances and changes in their specialty area
For example, the American Board of Internal Medicine states that to become certified in the subspecialty of medical oncology, physicians must:
Be previously certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine
Complete the necessary graduate medical education fellowship training
Demonstrate clinical competence, procedural skills, and moral and ethical behavior in the clinical setting
Have a valid, unrestricted, and unchallenged license to practice medicine
Pass the Medical Oncology Certification Examination
Cancer treatment is often a team approach between oncologists and other healthcare professionals, such as:
Diagnostic radiologist (uses radiologic techniques, such as X-rays and ultrasound, to diagnose disease)
Pathologists (specializes in interpreting laboratory tests, and evaluates tissues, cells, and organs to diagnose disease)
Oncology nurse
Oncology social worker
Counselors
Dietitians
Summary
An oncologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
The three main types of oncologists are medical, surgical, and radiation. Other oncologist specializations include by age, by area of the body, and by type of cancer.
It is important to research and choose an oncologist that meets your needs.
Cancer treatment is often a team effort, with oncologists working with other oncologists and professionals such as pathologists, social workers, and dietitians.
Talk to your healthcare provider or oncologist if you have any questions or concerns.
By Heather Jones
Jones is a freelance writer with a strong focus on health, parenting, disability, and feminism.