As researchers continue to improve cancer treatments, their focus isn’t just on increasing effectiveness, but also decreasing side effects. This is important because there are now nearly 16 million people living with a history of cancer in the United States, and they will need to be treated for the rest of their lives. When a person is diagnosed with cancer, they often have many questions for their medical team. Cancer Treatment Glendale may feel frightened, anxious, and frustrated because the answers aren’t always black-and-white. An oncologist is a specialist doctor who has trained to diagnose and treat different types of cancer in different parts of the body. They can take tissue samples (biopsies) from a tumour to check its type and if it’s spread to other parts of the body, then give treatment plans.

There are three main types of oncologist: Medical oncologists are doctors who specialise in treating cancer using medicines, such as chemotherapy and hormone therapy. They complete a three-year internal medicine residency and two-year oncology fellowship, and are members of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. They have the initials FRACP after their name. Surgical oncologists are doctors who specialise in the surgical treatment of cancer, and they also do a three-year internal medicine residency and a two-year surgery fellowship. They have the initials FASRM after their name. Radiation oncologists are doctors who use radiation to treat cancer, and they complete a five-year residency in one of the following areas: general surgery, medical oncology, internal medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology, and have four years of training in radiotherapy.

People with cancer may need help getting to and from appointments, managing their treatments, and dealing with the side effects of treatment. Whether it’s their partner, family member, friend or other relative, they are known as a carer. Caregiver responsibilities can be a lot of work and can affect someone’s quality of life, so it’s important that the person who is taking care of them gets some support. Decision regret is feeling bad about a choice made during a health encounter, it is a common experience that can negatively impact on a person’s health-related quality of life. It’s been shown that this regret can lead to less engagement with their healthcare, poorer health habits and lower overall wellbeing.

It is thought that decision regret is a result of inadequate information transfer and insufficient patient involvement in the health encounter. Consequently, research on improving patient-centered outcomes in oncology is focusing on ways to involve patients more closely with their health care. For example, encouraging a person to have a discussion with their doctor about their options before making any decisions can help reduce decision regret. In addition, research has shown that a person’s perception of the quality of their health care is directly related to their level of involvement in their own healthcare. The more a person is involved in their own healthcare, the better they will perceive the quality of their health. If you are looking for an oncologist, we highly recommend Palo Verde Cancer Specialists.

Palo Verde Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing the most advanced and compassionate cancer care available in the Valley. Visit the Palo Verde Cancer Specialists website at https://www.pvhomed.com/ to schedule an appointment or to seek a second opinion today. Unlike many other cancer treatment centers, their centers include a comprehensive array of life-saving treatments administered by board-certified hematologists, oncologists, and radiation oncologists. Each specialist will walk you through the process, from diagnosis to treatment. Assembling all of these specialists at one center and working with such a multitude of treatment options means you can be confident that you are getting the best possible treatment plan. Their locations include: East Valley, Estrella, Glendale, Scottsdale, and West Valley. Visit the Palo Verde Cancer Specialists website to find out more today!