Origin Cancer was described in antiquity, but oncology organized as a distinct specialty over the twentieth century, built on surgical, radiotherapeutic and, from mid-century, chemotherapeutic advances.
Oncology is the branch of medicine dealing with the study, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Cancer itself was described as far back as ancient Egyptian medical papyri, but oncology as an organized specialty is a twentieth century development, built on advances in surgery, radiotherapy after the discovery of X-rays and radioactivity, and chemotherapy from the mid-twentieth century onward. This atlas records what the historical record supports and is not medical advice.
Facts
Origin PeriodCancer was described in antiquity, but oncology organized as a distinct specialty over the twentieth century, built on surgical, radiotherapeutic and, from mid-century, chemotherapeutic advances. 2 Years of Training Classification
Type/Classification FAQs
How old is the recognition of cancer?
Described in ancient Egyptian papyri, but oncology is twentieth century.
Cancer was described as far back as ancient Egyptian medical papyri, although oncology as an organized specialty is a twentieth century development.
What advances is oncology built on?
Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Oncology is built on advances in surgery, radiotherapy after the discovery of X-rays and radioactivity, and chemotherapy from the mid-twentieth century onward.
Connections
Associated With
Lymphatic-system cancer; oncology specialty.
Plasma-cell cancer; oncology specialty.
Pathologists diagnose and classify cancers for oncologists
PET imaging helps diagnose and manage cancer alongside cardiac disease and neurological disorders.
Long-Form Articles
Notable Specialists
Source Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (Wikipedia)
Source Arnold Graffi (Wikipedia)
Source Cooperative Human Tissue Network (Wikipedia)
Source Douglas Scherr (source article)
Source E. Donnall Thomas (Wikipedia)
Source Élmer Huerta (Wikipedia)
Source Emmanuel Amey Ojara (Wikipedia)
Source Gary Onik (source article)
Source George Klein (biologist) (Wikipedia)
Source Henri Joyeux (Wikipedia)
Source J. Michael Bishop (Wikipedia)
Source John E. Niederhuber (Wikipedia)
Source John Maxwell Anderson (Wikipedia)
Source John Obadiah Justamond (Wikipedia)
Source Jon Sudbø (Wikipedia)
Source Léon Eugène Bérard (Wikipedia)
Source Michael Baum (surgeon) (Wikipedia)
Source Roswell Park (Wikipedia)
Source Sampson Handley (source article)
Source Sharad Vaidya (Wikipedia)
St. Jude was founded specifically for pediatric cancer research and treatment and remains one of the leading childhood cancer research centers in the world.
Source St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: History
Source Steven A. Vasilev (Wikipedia)
Source Steven Libutti (Wikipedia)
Source Thomas Dao (source article)
Source Umberto Veronesi (Wikipedia)
Treats
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Medical specialty
WikipediaClassification tableQuote, Classification table
Medical specialties that focus on the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of disease.
2. A History of Medicine
Lois N. Magner, CRC Press- Origin Period: Cancer was described in antiquity, but oncology organized as a distinct specialty over the twentieth century, built on surgical, radiotherapeutic and, from mid-century, chemotherapeutic advances.
3. ACP: Oncology subspecialty
Training sectionQuote, Training section
Medical oncology fellowship training requires two years of accredited training
Encyclopaedia Britannica
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: History
St. Jude Children's Research HospitalNotable Specialists: St. Jude Children's Research HospitalView the Source Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, Lead paragraph 1Quote, Notable Specialists: Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, Lead paragraph 1
clinical trials with promising new cancer therapies
Cooperative Human Tissue Network (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Cooperative Human Tissue Network, Lead paragraph 1Quote, Notable Specialists: Cooperative Human Tissue Network, Lead paragraph 1
biospecimens for cancer research
E. Donnall Thomas (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: E. Donnall Thomas, Lead paragraphQuote, Notable Specialists: E. Donnall Thomas, Lead paragraph
developed bone marrow transplantation as a treatment for leukemia
Roswell Park (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Roswell Park, Lead sentence [in-group]Quote, Notable Specialists: Roswell Park, Lead sentence [in-group]
was an American physician and cancer researcher
J. Michael Bishop (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: J. Michael Bishop, Awards and honorsQuote, Notable Specialists: J. Michael Bishop, Awards and honors
Their findings allowed the understanding of how malignant tumors are formed from changes to the normal genes of a cell.
Jon Sudbø (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Jon Sudbø, BiographyQuote, Notable Specialists: Jon Sudbø, Biography
formerly employed as a consultant oncologist at the Radium Hospital in Oslo
Umberto Veronesi (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Umberto Veronesi, Lead sentence [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Umberto Veronesi, Lead sentence [specialist-in]
was an Italian oncologist, physician, scientist, and politician
Michael Baum (surgeon) (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Michael Baum (surgeon), Lead [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Michael Baum (surgeon), Lead [specialist-in]
is a British surgical oncologist who specialises in breast cancer treatment
George Klein (biologist) (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: George Klein (biologist), Lead sentence [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: George Klein (biologist), Lead sentence [specialist-in]
Specializing in cancer research
Henri Joyeux (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Henri Joyeux, BiographyQuote, Notable Specialists: Henri Joyeux, Biography
became a surgeon in general oncology in 1972, and a professor in digestive surgery and oncology
John E. Niederhuber (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: John E. Niederhuber, Opening sentenceQuote, Notable Specialists: John E. Niederhuber, Opening sentence
John Edward Niederhuber is an American oncologist
Élmer Huerta (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Élmer Huerta, Opening sentence [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Élmer Huerta, Opening sentence [specialist-in]
is a Peruvian medical oncologist and internist
Steven Libutti (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Steven Libutti, Early life and educationQuote, Notable Specialists: Steven Libutti, Early life and education
he completed a fellowship in surgical oncology and endocrine surgery in the Surgery Branch of the National Cancer Institute
Thomas Dao (source article)
Notable Specialists: Thomas Dao, LeadQuote, Notable Specialists: Thomas Dao, Lead
specialist in breast cancer, its causes and treatment
Gary Onik (source article)
Notable Specialists: Gary Onik, Lead [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Gary Onik, Lead [specialist-in]
ultrasound-guided procedures for treating cancer using cryosurgery
Douglas Scherr (source article)
Notable Specialists: Douglas Scherr, Lead, specialtyQuote, Notable Specialists: Douglas Scherr, Lead, specialty
specialist in Urologic Oncology
Arnold Graffi (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Arnold Graffi, Lead paragraph, professionQuote, Notable Specialists: Arnold Graffi, Lead paragraph, profession
was a pioneering German doctor in the area of experimental cancer research
Steven A. Vasilev (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Steven A. Vasilev, Lead sentence [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Steven A. Vasilev, Lead sentence [specialist-in]
specializing in gynecologic oncology
Léon Eugène Bérard (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Léon Eugène Bérard, LeadQuote, Notable Specialists: Léon Eugène Bérard, Lead
was a French surgeon and oncologist
Sampson Handley (source article)
Notable Specialists: Sampson Handley, Biography, cancer researchQuote, Notable Specialists: Sampson Handley, Biography, cancer research
He worked at the cancer research wing at the Middlesex Hospital where he researched the methods by which cancer spread.
Emmanuel Amey Ojara (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Emmanuel Amey Ojara, Lead [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Emmanuel Amey Ojara, Lead [specialist-in]
was a medical doctor, surgeon, and oncologist in East Africa
John Obadiah Justamond (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: John Obadiah Justamond, Life section [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: John Obadiah Justamond, Life section [specialist-in]
for palliation and cures of cancers
Sharad Vaidya (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Sharad Vaidya, LeadQuote, Notable Specialists: Sharad Vaidya, Lead
Sharad Vaidya (7 March 1936-19 October 2000) was an Indian surgeon who specialized in cancer surgery.
John Maxwell Anderson (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: John Maxwell Anderson, Lead and career sections [specialist-in 2]Quote, Notable Specialists: John Maxwell Anderson, Lead and career sections [specialist-in 2]
a Scottish consultant surgeon and cancer specialist
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