Oncology is the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. A doctor who specializes in oncology is an oncologist. Cancer is a disease caused by the abnormal growth of cells in the body. These cells can invade and damage healthy tissue, including organs. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Early detection and treatment of cancer can improve the chances of survival.
The word “oncology” comes from the Greek word for tumor, onkos. The study of tumors began in ancient times. The first known mention of cancer was in an Egyptian medical text from about 1600 BCE. The Edwin Smith Papyrus, a copy of an even older document, contains descriptions of eight types of tumors and three types of cancer surgery. The Ebers Papyrus, another ancient Egyptian medical text, contains a description of breast cancer.
Cancer has been known throughout history as a dreaded disease with few effective treatments available. In recent years, however, significant progress has been made in the development of new treatments for cancer. These advances have led to improved survival rates for many types of cancer. Despite these advances, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide.