What is cancer & oncology?

Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells in the body grow in an abnormal, uncontrolled way. There are over 100 different types of cancer.

What is cancer?

The human body is made up of billions of cells, which in a healthy body are usually turning over slowly, in an organised way.

Cancer is the term we use for a disease that occurs when these cells grow in an abnormal and uncontrolled way. This uncontrolled growth of cells can cause a lump or a mass to form, which is called a tumour. Tumours can be benign or malignant.

Types of tumours

These tumours are made up of cancer cells. They are usually faster growing, can destroy tissue and have the ability to spread to other parts of the body.
These tumours usually grow slowly and do not spread to other parts of the body. Benign tumours only become a problem if they grow very large, taking up space and affecting the way the body works.

Cancer may also affect blood cells, causing blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma. These blood cancers also cause normal blood cell production to be reduced due to the uncontrolled growth of the abnormal (malignant) cells in the bone marrow.

Over time, the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells usually becomes too much for the body to cope with, or will spread to a part of the body that is essential for life.

What is oncology?

Oncology is the branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and research of cancer.

This includes medical oncology, radiation oncology, haematology and surgical oncology.

What is an oncologist?

An oncologist is a doctor that specialises in treating cancer. Oncologists support patients from diagnosis, through treatment and into survivorship as part of a multidisciplinary team. While some oncologists specialise in certain types of cancer (e.g. breast cancer), others treat a wide range of different cancer types. Oncologists also conduct research into cancer to improve our understanding of the disease and its treatment.

Types of oncologists

There are four main types of oncologists:

Radiation oncologists

Doctors who specialise in treating cancer using radiation therapy.

Medical oncologists

Doctors who specialise in diagnosing and treating solid tumours (e.g. cancerous tumours in the lung, breast or bowel) with the use of chemotherapy drugs, immunotherapy and hormone therapies.

Haematologists

Doctors who specialise in treating cancers affecting the blood/bone marrow (e.g. leukaemia) and lymphatic system (i.e. lymphoma), and often perform bone marrow transplants.

Surgical oncologists

Doctors who specialise in removing cancerous tissue through surgery.

Types of cancer treatment

Apheresis Bone Marrow Collection Chemotherapy DCISionRT Haematology Hormone Therapy Immunotherapy Radiotherapy Targeted Therapies Theranostics

The content on the Icon Cancer Centre website is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. It is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified medical practitioner. For personalised medical guidance, please consult with your GP or another qualified healthcare provider.

Our mission it to deliver the best cancer care possible, as close to home as possible. Talk to our team at your nearest centre about being treated at Icon. We’re here to answer your questions.