Types of Cancers

• Oncology industry research has classified cancer according to the parts of the body affected. These cancers may include bone cancer that affects both adults and children, but it is more common in children; examples are osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma. Brain cancer involves formation of tumors in the brain, which may be either malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous) e.g. ependymoma, brain stem glioma. Other kinds may include blood cancer (leukemia), breast cancer, including ductal carcinoma, and digestive or gastrointestinal cancers, such as colon cancer.
  
  

Areas of Specialization

• There are various known methods of treating cancers. An oncologist is often likely to specialize in one area of treatment. Radiation specialists treat cancer by using a radiation machine which emits high energy rays directed to cancer area and thus stopping further growth and dividing of the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy specialists treat cancer by administering anti-cancer drugs. This may be through injection or via the mouth. This treatment is mostly used for cancers that have spread widely in the body. Biological therapy specialists oncologists offer treatment which involves the use of substances that enhance the body's immunity in order to fight the cancerous cells. The side effects of any of the above treatment types are reduced by this method. Hormone therapy specialists' area of work involves starving the cancer cells of the hormones they need in order to spread.
  
  

Ethical Issues

• Research is a key factor in developing this sector and as such questions of how the research is conducted and who is involved are being brought up. The cancer advocates who also involve cancer survivors want to know what the researchers are doing and whether it is of benefit to the general public or it is out to benefit a few individuals/corporations financially. In terms of the cancer drugs manufactured, questions are being asked if they are effectively tested and if the patients are being given the best treatment.
  
  

Common Misconception

• The most common misconception is that cancer treatment causes more damage than good. It is common knowledge that exposure to radioactivity kills the body's cells. However, apart from radiotherapy, the treatment of cancer combines chemotherapy and also surgery. The radiotherapy treatment targets the cancerous cells only. Considering that there is no medical treatment that lacks side effects, such a false assumption about oncology can only be more damaging.
  
  

Future

• The diagnosis and treatment of cancer is likely to be directed towards the therapeutics approach. This method expends a shorter duration of time in coming up with results for many cancers. Information about the pathological specimen provided by this approach prevents the waste of time and money and also ensures that the patients have a higher chance of survival.