The doctor in charge of finding the best therapy to cure cancer is the oncologist, also called oncologist. Update on this medical specialty.
What is the definition of an oncologist?
Oncology, also called “cancerology” or “carcinology”, is the medical specialty responsible for thestudy, diagnosis and treatment of cancers, consequences of an anarchic multiplication of certain cells of the human body. She is interested in all types of cancerous tumours, whether solid or not, localized or extensive. The main goal of oncology is to better understand the possible causes of cancers and their development process in order to be able to prevent and cure them more effectively.
Where does the oncologist work,
Oncology is practiced by oncologists, more commonly called “cancérologues” in France. These medical specialists make decisions on the best therapy to adopt for a particular patient based on their personal characteristics, their general condition and the type of cancerous tumor they have: its location, progress and prognosis. This specialty is hospital and very often multidisciplinary, involving specialists in the affected organ, pathologists, cytologists, surgeons, radiologists, radiation therapists, etc.
What is the role of an oncologist
“The specialty taught during the internship, and which gives us our ordinal qualification, is oncology but it is a synonym of oncology”, explains Dr. Jean-Philippe Wagner oncologist in Dunkirk. There are three types of oncologists:
- The medical oncologist : he will prescribe drugs against cancer.
- The oncologist-hematologist who will take care of blood tumors.
- The oncologist-radiation therapist who will be able to develop treatments by rays as well as by drugs.
“Initially, we all have generalist training in oncology and then, depending on professional opportunities, we will be able to specialize in a particular cancer if we wish. Most of the time, in private establishments, they are generalist oncologists It is more in specialized cancer centers or university hospitals that oncologists specialize in a specific type of cancer”says the specialist.
Why go to an oncologist?
The best thing is to consult an oncologist as soon as possible in the treatment process. In general it is often the general practitioner who detects the first signs of cancer. If there is suspicion of cancer, the patient will first undergo various examinations such as radio, ultrasound, scanner. Then, he goes to see an organ specialist and very often, a surgeon because many cancers at the initial stage are operated on. “The oncologist generally intervenes after the diagnosis has been made or even after surgery. We would prefer it to be the opposite, for the oncologist to be consulted as soon as there is suspicion of cancer”laments the oncologist.
“The specialist who made the diagnosis will present the file in a multidisciplinary observation meeting during which we will know the type of cancer and its stage, knowing that the treatments are now standardized for 90% of cancers. At the end of this meeting, the patient is sent to the oncologist who will check the procedure, make sure nothing has been overlooked and offer the patient a treatment, giving him the advantages and disadvantages, possibly talking to him about the prognosis and arranging the intake in charge of the patient if the latter is in favor of the treatment”, emphasizes Dr. Jean-Philippe Wagner.
Preparing for your visit to the oncologist
The patient must collect all the documents that have been given to him during his entire course of treatment, making sure that he has all the x-rays, all the examinations that have been done. The goal ? Facilitate the first consultation and prevent the medical secretary from having to go on a race for documents. “In addition, it is preferable that the patient prepare questions, because he will inevitably have some, and that he thinks of coming accompanied to better face the shock of the diagnosis”, advises the oncologist.
Price and reimbursement of an oncology session
The basic price of an oncology consultation in sector 1 is set at €25 with a reimbursement rate of 70%. In sector 2, the fees are free and the basis for reimbursement is €23.
What studies to become an oncologist?
After 6 years of medicine, we pass a competition and if we obtain a good place in the ranking, we can choose the specialty of oncology. There are 5 years of internship to do and after 5 years, you pass your thesis, a dissertation and you are officially accepted as an oncologist by the council of the order. “It’s not an easy job, you have to want to treat cancers and to see death every day because we only cure 50% of our patients. It requires being psychologically armed because cancer and death frighten most people”, recognizes the oncologist.
Thanks to Dr Jean-Philippe Wagner, oncologist in Dunkirk.