Oncology (cancerology)

Did you know ?

There were 17 million new cases of cancer worldwide in 2018.1

Don’t take any chances with your health, let Concilio’s medical team accompany you personally.

What is oncology?

Oncology is a specialty that studies and treats malignant tumors. Malignant diseases are generally serious because they can lead to a fatal outcome in the short, medium, or long term. The cure of a cancerous disease will largely depend on the early diagnosis and treatment.

What is Cancer?

Cancer is a cell-based disease (organic functional unit). Lesions begin with an uncontrolled proliferation of any cell in the body, resulting in tissue dysfunction followed by organic dysfunction.

Each cell has a specific role (the red blood cells carry oxygen, the oocytes ensure reproduction …). No cell is immortal and at the end of its life (apoptosis), each cell uses the phenomenon of mitosis or cell replication to ensure its durability. During these replications, changes may occur at the DNA level, which carries the genetic information that serves as an identity card to the cell. These modifications can be innocuous, not leading to any particular modification of the cellular functions. However, in certain cases an abnormality alters the functions of the cell, which can lead to the development of cancer.

Why is it important to obtain the best care when you are ill?

Concilio enables you to access the best healthcare available to you. Our medical team will personally assist you to help you deal with any health issue.

  • In 45% of cases, your diagnosis or treatment plan could be optimized
  • 9 out 10 doctors prescribe unnecessary medical acts: surgery, repeat investigations, non-compliance with recommended best medical practice
  • All hospitals and clinics are not equal. Some are better suited to treating your illness than others.
  • Medicine is becoming more and more specialized. It can be complicated to obtain reliable medical information and ensure you get to see the medical practitioner that’s right for you and your condition.

Types of tumours

It is necessary to differentiate benign tumors from malignant tumors. Oncology mainly concerns pathologies of a malignant nature. Cancerous diseases can be categorized as:

  • Solid tumors
  • Hematologic
  • Primitive cancers
  • Secondary cancers

These diseases can affect all organs of the body. Their clinical expressions are as variable as the type of tissue reached.

Screening and prevention

The risk of developing cancer is not the same for everyone. Some people, who are genetically predisposed, are at higher risk of developing cancer. Environment and lifestyle are also involved in the occurrence of cancer, which explains the high incidence of lung cancer among smokers. Even if the cancer is generally slowly progressive, early detection is possible.

The diagnosis of cancer can sometimes be linked to monitoring of a recurrent or chronic disease. It can also be detected by screening following continuous exposures to carcinogenic factors. In most cases, however, cancer will only be discovered at an already advanced stage or during a systematic review during a health check.

Evolution and management

There is sometimes a long period of time between the onset of the disease and the appearance of the first signs of cancer; as a result, the diagnosis of cancer will be delayed, which reduces the chances of recovery.

The peculiarity of cancer in children is however its rapid evolution, with a response to treatment which is often better.

The treatment of a cancer comprises several components, which can be complementary, in order to eradicate the disease or at least to control its proliferation and the resulting symptoms. Treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, hormone therapy, and finally care for advanced cancers.

A cancer will generally be considered to be cured after at least five years without signs of relapse.

Fiche Oncology

  • Author : Florian Reinaud, MD
  • Date :
  • Author of revisions : Florian Reinaud, MD
  • Revision date :

1112 peer-recommended oncologists have been identified by Concilio