The question of whether all oncologists are surgeons stems from a common confusion about the term “oncologist.” This title is not a single job description but rather an umbrella term for a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The field of oncology is highly specialized, and physicians within it focus on different primary methods of care. The answer is no, as only one specific sub-specialty of oncology is dedicated to performing surgical procedures.
The Broad Definition of an Oncologist
An oncologist is a physician who has undergone extensive training to focus specifically on the complex science of cancer. The path begins with medical school, followed by a demanding residency program in a foundational field like internal medicine or general surgery. After residency, a doctor completes a specialized fellowship, which is an additional two to three years of intensive study focused on cancer care.
This rigorous training ensures the physician possesses a deep understanding of cancer biology, including how malignant cells form, grow, and spread. The general oncologist’s role is to coordinate care, regardless of the treatment method, and to help patients manage symptoms and side effects.
Surgical Oncology The Specific Overlap
The only oncologists who are surgeons are those who have completed training in surgical oncology. These specialists first complete a residency in general surgery, which provides the technical skills required for operating procedures. They then pursue a specialized fellowship to focus their surgical expertise on cancer treatment.
The surgical oncologist’s function is to use physical intervention to manage the disease. This includes performing biopsies to confirm a diagnosis and determine the cancer stage. Their primary role is the physical removal of tumors and surrounding tissue, such as lymph nodes, in a procedure known as a resection. They work to achieve clear margins, meaning the entire cancerous area and a small rim of healthy tissue must be removed to minimize the chance of recurrence.
Other Key Cancer Specialists
The majority of oncologists focus on non-surgical treatments. The two other major disciplines are medical oncology and radiation oncology.
Medical Oncology
A medical oncologist specializes in systemic therapies, which are treatments that circulate throughout the bloodstream to reach cancer cells across the entire body. These systemic treatments include chemotherapy, which uses powerful drugs to destroy rapidly dividing cells, and newer modalities like hormone therapy and targeted therapy. Medical oncologists also administer immunotherapy, a treatment that harnesses the patient’s own immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. These specialists are often responsible for the long-term management of the patient, coordinating various treatments and providing palliative care to maintain quality of life.
Radiation Oncology
A radiation oncologist is another type of cancer specialist who is not a surgeon, focusing instead on the precise use of high-energy radiation. They employ sophisticated technology like linear accelerators to deliver targeted doses of radiation, which damages the DNA of cancer cells, causing them to die or stop dividing. Treatment may involve external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), where the beam is directed from outside the body, or internal radiation, known as brachytherapy, where a radioactive source is placed directly inside or near the tumor. These different oncologists collaborate in a multi-disciplinary approach, ensuring that a patient’s treatment plan uses the most effective combination of surgery, systemic therapy, and radiation.