If you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, you’ll likely feel a range of powerful emotions, from shock and confusion to fear and determination. And chances are one of your first questions will be: What’s my treatment plan?
Your first step will likely be meeting with an oncologist. Your oncologist will be a key member of your care team, so it’s important for you to feel confident in them and the treatment plan they recommend.
Read on to learn about what oncologists do and how to make sure you’ve found the best doctor for you.
What does an oncologist do? They help you get the cancer care you need.
An oncologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer. They often work as the main doctor for someone with cancer, developing a personalized treatment plan, offering supportive care and coordinating with other specialists. Here are ways that oncologists support patients:
Types of oncologists
Oncologists can specialize in specific cancer treatments, types of cancer or in treating people of specific ages. Because you may get more than one type of treatment, your cancer care team may include multiple oncologists.
- Dermatologic oncologists – These doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating skin cancers, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. They work with others to provide treatments for skin cancer, which may include Mohs surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and other surgeries and procedures. They also manage skin-related side effects of cancer treatments and provide preventive care for high-risk patients.
- Gynecologic oncologists – Gynecologic oncologists treat cancers of the female reproductive system, including uterine, cervical, ovarian, vaginal and vulvar cancers. They oversee treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormone therapy.
- Hematologists – These oncologists specialize in cancers of the blood, including leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma. They oversee treatment plans that may include chemotherapy, immunotherapy and bone marrow transplants.
- Medical oncologists – These types of oncologists treat cancer with medication, including chemotherapy,immunotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy. Medicines are a main part of many treatment plans. It’s common to see a medical oncologist right after a cancer diagnosis and throughout the treatment process.
- Neurological oncologists – The focus of these oncologists is brain and spine tumors. They work closely with neurosurgeons and other specialists to provide treatments like surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
- Radiation oncologists – Radiation oncologists specialize in treating cancer with radiation therapy, a type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells or slow their growth, and shrink tumors.
- Surgical oncologists – This type of oncologist treats cancer by surgically removing tumors. In high-risk individuals they may also perform preventive surgeries, like removing one or both breasts to reduce the chance of getting breast cancer.
- Thoracic oncologists – This type of oncologist treats cancers that form in the chest, including lung cancer and esophageal cancer. To treat these cancers they may use surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of treatments.
A cancer care team also includes other specialists
In order to make sure that each person receives the highest quality of care, a cancer team may include other specialists, such as:
- Diagnostic radiologist – These specialists use imaging techniques like X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans to determine the location, size and spread of tumors. These doctors help pinpoint where and when radiation therapy should be used and also help identify if treatment is working.
- Pathologist – Pathologists examine tissue samples and cells under a microscope to diagnose the type and stage of cancer. They also perform genetic testing on cancer cells, which can help determine if targeted therapy is an option.
- Oncology nurse navigator – A nurse navigator is an oncology nurse who is the primary point of contact for patients throughout their treatment journey. They’ll help you coordinate your care and may also help administer treatments like chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy.
- Oncology social worker – Oncology social workers provide emotional and practical support during cancer treatment. They offer counseling, help navigate the health care system, connect patients with community resources and help with questions about finances. They also help patients cope with the emotional impact of cancer and its treatment.
- Genetic counselor – Genetic counselors discuss personal and family history of cancer, how it influences cancer risks, the value of screening and genetic testing, and ways to reduce risk.
- Mental health therapist –Mental health professionals offer short-term cancer-focused counseling to provide support, tools and healthy ways of coping.
- Integrated medicine clinician – These specialists provide integrative therapies, such as massage and healing touch, to enhance or complement conventional cancer treatment.
- Palliative care team – The palliative care team helps to improve quality of life through symptom management and emotional support.
- Rehabilitation specialists – Depending on a person’s needs, the care team may include specialists, such as a physical therapist, occupational therapist or speech therapist to help them build strength and skills during recovery.
- Registered dietitian – These specialists help manage nutrition, appetite and dietary needs during treatment.
- Music therapist – Music therapy works by stimulating the brain and influencing brain chemistry. It’s guided by a board-certified and trained music therapist.
- Chaplain – A chaplain provides patients and families with spiritual, religious and emotional support, based on their beliefs.
If treatment is no longer being pursued, hospice care can help a person live their final days to the fullest, with people they want to spend time with, and in the places that make them feel the most comfortable.
What to look for in an oncologist and cancer care team
Getting cancer treatment from an oncologist you trust and feel comfortable talking to is deeply important. Here are some things you can do to make sure you’re on the right track:
Ask for an oncologist referral that’s close to home
Your diagnosing doctor will likely recommend a specific type of oncologist based on the type of cancer you have or how it’s usually treated. Depending on the clinic or health system you’ve received care from before your diagnosis, you’ll likely be referred to an oncologist in your area. Doctors can only send their patients to locations where they have admitting privileges, so make sure the doctor you choose has privileges at cancer centers or hospitals where you’re willing to go. However, if location isn’t as important to you, you may ask for the names of several oncologists specializing in your type of cancer.
As a comprehensive health system, HealthPartners is home to a range of different cancer specialists across multiple locations. So for many people, it’s a smooth transition from diagnosis to treatment.
Check to see if the oncologist is in-network
If you’re planning to get treatment in the same health system where you got your diagnosis, and you’ve been covered by your insurance up to this point, it’s likely that you’ll continue to be covered. But it’s worth checking with your insurance to make sure that any oncologists you’re looking at are in-network, especially if you’re working with a smaller clinic or health system. Knowing who your insurance covers can inform your plans if you think you may need financial assistance for cancer care.
Get reviews of oncologists
One of the best ways to get an idea for what a doctor’s really like is to read reviews from other patients. If you have people in your life who have gone through cancer treatment, for example, you could talk to them about the oncologists or treatment centers they worked with.
Some health systems make things a little easier by providing web pages where people can leave ratings and comments. At HealthPartners, online doctor profiles provide information about their background, specialties and experience, plus what their patients think of them.
Consider your preferences in an oncologist
Think about the kind of personality you’d like your oncologist to have. Do you want someone lighthearted, who will crack a joke once in a while? Or would you rather they kept things straight and to the point? This can be something to keep in mind when you’re reading biographies and reviews, but it’ll be especially useful when you talk to an oncologist in person.
Get the expert cancer care you need
Once you’ve found an oncologist or two with potential, the next step is to meet with them. It’s a good idea to have a list of questions to ask an oncologist at your first appointment. For example, you likely want to know more about the stage and type of cancer, treatment options and what you could expect if you choose them as your oncologist.
At HealthPartners Cancer Care, we’re committed to helping you find the perfect oncologist (or oncologists) for you. And with 95%* patient satisfaction, you can be assured you’re in good hands.
*Statistical data from 2024 NRC Health survey results.
