Are all Oncologists Hematologists?
 

Hi,

Just curious if all onco's are hematologists? If they are, then some of them specialize in breast, colon, etc? I am asking because I am wondering if my mom's doctor is the right person to be helping her with his MDS.

Yaka

Yaka;
Not necessarily always - since there are many other diseases that affect the blood that are not cancerous - but a lot of the times they are. They didn't used to be, but found out that their practice expanded when they included both blood and cancer. Of course, it takes a lot more training and practicing under both a certified hema and certified oncologist. Hope this helps.

Beth

Hi Yaka. All oncologists are not hematologists. There are so many distinct kinds of cancer that each tends to have their own specialty. Also, MDS is rare enough that a lot of doctors don't have loads of experience with it even if they've treated a lot of cancers. On top of that, MDS is really many different diseases. It's always good to have an opinion from a center/doctor that's seen a lot of MDS cases.

Then I need to find out if my mom's doctor is a hematologist onco because that would be the best for an MDS patient?

Yaka

Hematologists
 

Yaka

The important point is to find a Dr that specializes in blood disorders. My initial hematologist refered me to a teaching hospital with specialist in blood disorders and blood cancers.

Scott

Yaka,
Where does your mother live?

We live in Bergen County, New Jersey.

Dr. Stuart Goldberg is a specialist in MDS that my mother went to see in Hackensack, NJ in Bergen County. She is currently being treated by a Hematologist/Oncologist in Denville/Morristown NJ and he sent her to Dr Goldberg for a second opinion. Here is his link: http://www.jtcancercenter.org/physic...goldberg_m.d1/

Hope this helps!