The oncologist often coordinates the multidisciplinary care of cancer patients, which may involve physiotherapy, counseling, clinical genetics, to name but a few. An oncologist often has to liaise with pathologists on the exact biological nature of the tumor that is being treated.
Oncology is concerned with:
* The diagnosis of cancer
* Therapy (e.g., surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other modalities)
* Follow-up of cancer patients after successful treatment
* Palliative care of patients with terminal malignancies
* Ethical questions surrounding cancer care
* Screening efforts:
o of populations, or
o of the relatives of patients (in types of cancer that are thought to have a hereditary basis, such as breast cancer).