What Is Medical Oncology?

June 4, 2026

This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Ravi Salgia, M.D., Ph.D, Medical Oncologist and Professor and Chair, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope^® Cancer Center Duarte.

Oncology is the branch of medicine that specializes in the study and treatment of cancer. Medical oncology is the field within oncology that focuses on the use of medications such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or hormone therapy to treat cancer.

What Is a Medical Oncologist?

A medical oncologist is a doctor who has completed specialized training in cancer care, with a special focus on how to use medications to help treat and manage cancer. Medical oncologists often serve as a primary doctor within a patient’s cancer care team, coordinating with other doctors who specialize in areas such as surgery or radiation therapy. While medical oncologists treat a wide range of cancer types, they focus on adult patients. A cancer doctor who treats children and adolescents is called a pediatric oncologist.

What Does a Medical Oncologist Do?

A medical oncologist is often the first cancer specialist a patient sees. Medical oncologists play a key role on most patients’ cancer care teams. In addition to helping diagnose, treat and manage many different types of cancer, they may coordinate care with other cancer specialists and educate patients about supportive care options in various stages of a patient’s care, as listed below.

During the diagnosis process: A medical oncologist may perform physical examinations, order tests or refer a patient to another specialist to confirm whether a patient has cancer.

During treatment: Medical oncologists work with other cancer doctors to craft a personalized, effective treatment plan based on a patient’s diagnosis. A medical oncologist specializes in recommending medications to treat cancer, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and other cancer-fighting drugs.

After treatment: Most patients continue to see a medical oncologist at regular intervals. During this time, medical oncologists monitor a patient’s health and check for any signs of cancer coming back, so that it may be treated as early as possible.

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