oncology

Oncology

study, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.

Cancer

uncontrolled cell growth that can invade tissue and spread.

Benign

non-cancerous, usually harmless, doesn’t spread.

Malignant

cancerous, can invade nearby tissue and metastasize

Carcinomas

epithelial tissue (skin, organs, glands)

Sarcomas

connective tissue (bone, muscle, cartilage)

Metastasis

cancer spreading to distant organs → affects treatment & prognosis.

Stage II

larger tumor or nearby lymph node involvement; not yet distant

Stage IV

cancer has spread; may still be treatable, not always terminal

TNM

Tumor size, Node involvement, Metastasis.

Chemotherapy

kills fast-dividing cells, may lower immunity

Radiation

targets tumor with energy beams

Immunotherapy

boosts immune system to attack cancer

Targeted therapy

attacks specific molecular mutations

Hormone therapy

blocks hormones to slow certain cancers (breast/prostate).