Interventional Oncology
Interventional oncology is a special part of medicine that focuses on finding and treating cancer using gentle methods. These techniques are super precise and use advanced imaging to target and remove tumors with as few side effects as possible. In the last decade, interventional oncology has become a standard way to treat cancers like those in the liver, kidney, and lungs. It’s helped a lot of people feel better and even get rid of their cancer completely!
An interventional oncologist is a doctor who’s really skilled in using tiny tools to find and treat cancer. Instead of big surgeries, they make small cuts or pokes to access the body. These doctors work closely with other cancer specialists to make sure you get the best care.
Interventional oncologists deal with all sorts of cancers, both the main one and ones that have spread. Some common cancers include breast cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
Interventional oncologists do a bunch of procedures to tackle cancer:
- Tumor ablation: Using heat, cold, or other methods to zap away cancer cells.
- Embolization: Blocking blood flow to tumors with tiny particles or liquid to slow or stop their growth.
- Chemoembolization: Combining blocking blood flow with delivering chemotherapy drugs directly to a tumor.
- Radioembolization: Combining blocking blood flow with delivering radioactive particles to a tumor.
- Biopsies: Taking small samples of tumor tissue to check for cancer.
You might see one of these doctors if you or your regular doctor suspects you have cancer and need to figure out what’s going on or if you need treatment. They work with a whole team of cancer experts to make sure you get the right care for you.
