If you experience certain diseases, there are still many people who are confused should consult a medical expert which. The reason is, there are various kinds of health experts with similar abilities and related to one another. Hence this article will discus the differences and definition between hematology and oncology.
Definition of Hematology
Hematology is a term derived from Greek, namely haima and logos. Haima means blood, while logos means learning or knowledge. So, hematology is the study of blood, including components of the blood and all problems concerning the blood. Hematology plays an important role in every process of diagnosis to treatment planning that is appropriate for the condition of the person.
Doctors who specialize in this field are also called hematologists. A hematologist’s duty is to diagnose, treat, and prevent a person from various diseases related to blood. This includes cancers and non-cancers that affect blood components, such as white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets, as well as organs that produce blood, such as bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen.
The following various diseases can be diagnosed through hematology, including:
- Blood cancer, such as leukemia or lymphoma.
- Bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia.
- Blood disorders caused by genetic factors, such as sickle cell anemia.
- Autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid vasculitis or thalassemia.
- Obstructive disorders, such as deep vein thrombosis and arterial thromboembolism.
- Systemic blood infections, such as sepsis or septic shock.
In addition to the diseases mentioned above, hematologists are also often involved in conditions that require bone marrow transplantation or stem cells. Use keyword “hematologist near me” to find the location of hematologist near you.
Definition of Oncology
While oncology, is a specialized field that deals with the prevention and treatment of cancer. Doctors who focus on the field of oncology are called oncologists. The role of the oncologist is to provide advice for all cancer treatment procedures, from examinations to cancer treatments, including carrying out chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.
Clinical oncology is divided into three fields, namely surgical oncology which studies aspects of surgery for cancer, such as staging, biopsy, and tumor surgical resection.In addition, there are medical oncologists who treat cancer with treatment, for example with chemotherapy treatments. Finally, there is a radiation oncologist who treats cancer with therapeutic radiation.
But, the most frequently used by people with cancer is medical oncology. Various types of cancer that can be treated by medical oncologists, including breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, ovarian cancer, blood cancer or leukemia, skin cancer or melanoma, and kidney tumors.
The Differences Between Hematology and Oncology
Hematologists and oncologists are often considered to be the same because in some cases, the two of them can indeed work together to help diagnose and determine the right treatment for people with blood cancer.
But, hematologist and oncologist can also coordinate with other specialist doctors, such as radiology, surgery, genetics, or rheumatologist, for examination of blood cancer.
However, these two specialists are responsible for different diseases. So, if you are referred by a general practitioner for an examination with a hematologist, this does not mean you have cancer. It is possible that you are suspected of having certain conditions related to blood disorders.
