Advances in Oncological Medicine : Hayle Medical : 9781632417039 : 1632417030 : 06 Jun 2019 : Oncology is a branch of medicine which is concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. The term, cancer, refers to the diseases associated with the abnormal cell growth in the body, which have the potential to invade or spread to other parts. A medical practitioner who has specialized in this field is called an oncologist. Smoking or the intake of tobacco in other forms is considered to be the leading cause of cancer. Other risk factors include obesity and alcohol consumption. Cancer can be potentially treated by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, targeted therapy, hormonal therapy and synthetic lethality. The preferred mode of treatment varies according to the location and stage of the disease. The performance status of the patient is also taken into consideration. Cancer patients experience pain due to the tumor infiltrating or compressing nearby body parts, or d