Mesothelioma Oncologist

Anyone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma will have to meet with an oncologist to discuss their treatment options and learn more about the disease. Oncologists are doctors who specialize in the study and treatment of cancer.

Oncologists are the best doctors to diagnose and develop the optimal treatment plan for your cancer. Before any treatment course is developed, an oncologist will evaluate patient health and run a variety of tests to gather additional information. They might also recommend that you visit a few other doctors in order to explore other treatment procedures. The ultimate goal of your oncologist is to find the best treatment to meet the patient’s specific type of cancer.


Oncologists have a variety of specialties such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. A general physician is usually the first person to refer a patient to an oncology specialist.

Patient Relationship with a Mesothelioma Oncologist

A medical oncologist might not be the first person a patient sees during cancer treatment. Often there will be specialists who will assist patients in obtaining information about the specificities of their disease. The more information that is known on the location and stage of the cancer will help the doctors in developing an efficient treatment plan.

Oncologists will need to obtain a large amount of information before proceeding with any procedures or diagnosis. Many of their diagnostic methods include a biopsy, endoscopy, imaging scans and blood tests for tumor markers. More often than not, the oncologist will have to take a tissue sample (a biopsy) in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis.

Mesothelioma Oncology During Treatment

Each treatment procedure will be different based upon the stage and location of the cancer. The plethora of treatment and diagnostic procedures can be extremely overwhelming for both the body and mind. An up-to-date medical history will ensure that the medical team will have the best tools to modify treatment to best suit the patient.

Throughout the treatment stage, an oncologist will use the ongoing test results to determine what type of treatment is best. In order to obtain the best form of treatment, oncologists will constantly re-evaluate patient health and the progression of the cancer within your body. Oncologists tend to recommend a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy based upon several factors such as overall health, the type of cancer and the stage.

Patient Involvement with Treatment

At any point during the treatment process, patients should ask their oncologist any questions if they arise. Many of the medical terminology that patients encounter will not be easy to understand, and the oncologist will help detail every part of the procedures that patients undergo. Regardless, if the doctor has not described anything well enough, patients should not hesitate to ask them to do so.

The diagnosis and treatment involved with any asbestos-related disease can be extremely overwhelming and patients should never be afraid to ask their oncologist for help. Getting the most information about mesothelioma and the entire treatment process will help put patients at ease.