29^th International Conference on
Cancer Research and Oncology

The 3 major specialties of oncology are:

• Medical oncology
• Surgical oncology
• Radiation oncology

There are several sub-specialties in the field of Oncology. The above mentioned specialties deal with the treatment of cancer through Chemotherapy or Immunotherapy, Biopsies and Radiology respectively. Other sub-specialties are as follows:

• Neuro-oncology
• Ocular oncology
• Head & Neck oncology
• Thoracic oncology
• Breast oncology
• Gastrointestinal oncology
• Bone & Musculoskeletal oncology
• Dermatological oncology
• Genitourinary oncology
• Gynecologic oncology
• Pediatric oncology
• Hemato oncology
• Preventive oncology
• Geriatric oncology
• Pain & Palliative oncology
• Molecular oncology
• Oncopathology
• Nuclear medicine oncology
• Psycho-oncology
• Veterinary oncology

An oncologist is a medical professional who practices oncology and treats cancer providing medical care for a person diagnosed with cancer.

An oncologist manages a patient’s care throughout the course of the disease starting with the diagnosis. The roles include: Explaining the cancer diagnosis and stage, Talking about the treatment options and their preferred choice, Delivering quality and compassionate care, Helping the patient in managing the symptoms and side effects of cancer and the treatment. Following are a few of the types:

• Medical Oncologist
• Surgical Oncologist
• Radiation Oncologist
• Gynecologic Oncologist
• Pediatric Oncologist
• Haematologist-Oncologist

Medical oncologists are doctors who diagnose, assess, treat and manage cancer patients and conduct research that has practical applications. They aim to provide the best possible outcome for cancer patients, whether that is cure, or palliation and prolongation of good quality life. They provide counselling for patients and their families.

Diagnosing cancers, discussing treatment options with patients, arranging and supervising drug treatment and therapies, supporting patients and overseeing their care, including their lives after treatment are part of their roles.

Medical oncologists treat patients whose cancer has potentially been cured by surgery but for whom further therapy improves their outlook.

Medical oncologists treat conditions such as colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, urological cancers, leukaemia, and melanoma. Common procedures include chemotherapy, endocrine therapy and biological therapies such as antibodies, small molecules and immunotherapy.

Clinical oncologists are doctors who treat patients with a balance of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. They are involved in the management of all types of cancer and use a range of other treatments to treat cancers, without using surgery.

They are different than medical oncologists, who use non-radiological treatments for cancer. Clinical oncologists determine which treatment to use by considering a range of factors such as the type of tumour, tumour site, the stage of the disease and the patient’s general health. They assess the relative merits of different treatments before presenting these to the patient.

It is the clinical oncologist that the patient can ask the important questions regarding their condition and treatment.

Research helps to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure for cancer. Research centres, institutes, companies, and hospitals, all contribute in a step by step progress against cancer.

Ranging from molecular bioscience to the clinical trials, Cancer research helps in evaluation and comparison of applications of various Cancer treatments. Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy and combined treatment modalities such as chemo-radiotherapy are such applications. It is the mid-1990s that marked the shifting of clinical cancer research to therapies derived from biotechnology research, such as cancer immunotherapy and gene therapy.

An advocate is a professional who supports or defends a cause. Similarly, in the cancer community, an advocate supports a cause or policy regarding cancer. Cancer advocates work on a local or national level, providing support to those living with cancer, raising public awareness of the disease, advancing cancer research, improving the quality of cancer care, addressing legislative and regulatory issues that affect cancer research.

Drug design is a process to find or to search new medicament depending on the biological targets. The drug which is a small molecule affects the biomolecules by activating or inhibiting the function, giving beneficial effect to the individuals. The design of the drug should be complementary to the target in shape and charge so that they can interact and bind with the receptor. It can be computerised as a whole or aided by drug design. This is useful in the search or finding of the drug based on the computational methods, which can be selected by improved affinity, stability and selectivity.

The long process that begins in a research lab ends up with Clinical Trials. It is a research study that involves volunteers. After long years of research works in order to understand its effects on cancer cells in the lab and in animals, a new treatment is used for people in clinical trials. Clinical Trials help doctors to find better treatments and ways to prevent cancer and other diseases. They also help to answer other questions, such as how to prevent disease or manage symptoms and side effects.

Cancer drugs have been classified into several classes which include natural products, alkylating agents, hormones, antimetabolites. Vaccine is administered to the healthy people for prevention from certain bacteria or viruses which spread certain diseases. These vaccines protect from the particular bacteria causing disease, as an individual need to be vaccinated before getting infected by the same virus or bacteria so that it is recognized by the immune system easily due to the presence of the specific antigens and thus can be killed or destroyed.

• Nitrogen Mustard
• 5-fluorouracil
• HPV vaccine
• Hepatitis B vaccine

Cancer is suspected in a view of a person’s symptoms and screening tests. Diagnostic tests affirm that Cancer is present which is followed by staging. Staging is a way of analysing the tumour, size, location and the required treatment depending on the Cancer stage. It helps to determine the Prognosis of the patient i.e., treatment predictions, disease outcomes and patients recovery chances.

Earlier treatments focused on surgical techniques for removing tumors. The 1900s marked the beginning of Radiation therapy and Chemotherapeutics which were later refined throughout the 20th century. These non-surgical methods include Medical, Clinical and Radiation Oncology.

Emerging topics in cancer treatment research include:

• Anti-cancer vaccines
• Newer forms of chemotherapy
• Gene therapy
• Photodynamic therapy
• Radiation therapy
• Reoviridae (Reolysin drug therapy)
• Targeted therapy
• Natural killer cells can induce immunological memory

Oncology nursing care is an important aspect in the treatment of cancer which meets the various needs of oncology patients including appropriate screenings, preventive practices, symptom management, and care to maintain as much normal functioning as possible, and supportive measures upon the end of life.

Oncology nurses can work in hospitals, hospice services, or in physician offices in a variety of specialties such as radiation, surgery, paediatric, or gynaecologic. Oncology nurses have advanced knowledge of assessing the client’s status which helps the multi-disciplinary medical team to develop a treatment plan.

Cancer treatment is complex, and managing all of the different aspects of treatment can be stressful. There are different doctors to consult, many tests to schedule, and instructions relating to the care to understand.

Biomedical Instruments are designed to aid in the diagnosis, monitoring or treatment of medical conditions. Several new types of equipment are used in the treatment of cancer such as:

Linear Accelerator (LINAC) – It emits radiation of highly localised (X-rays) and it is useful in the treatment of cancer. The 6 MeV linear accelerator having the capability of surface electron allows treating cancer cells even under the subcutis layer overlying the cranium. The patient can also see his activity through the connected display unit.

Gamma Camera – It is used in the detection of cancer via gamma rays. Here tracers used are introduced into the patient’s body intravenously, thus getting the image on the gamma camera as the tracer emits gamma rays which are detected by the gamma camera.

Radiography and Ultrasound – It is a non-invasive way of getting the image of the internal organs by ultrasound. It is a useful method for cancer patients for examining the abdomen for any enlargement of the lymph or masses.

A case study is a research method involving an up-close, in-depth, and detailed examination of a concerned case (subject/topic), as well as its related contextual conditions. Case studies can be produced by a formal research method followed by an individual, organization, event, or action, existing in a specific time and place. Here we are inviting case studies based on any types of cancer or related incidents or events with facts and figures. Presenting your studies on any other type of cancer in this category will privilege you with a 30% discount on registration.

Cancer Prevention and risk-reduction strategies greatly lower the physical, emotional, and financial burden of cancer and improve the overall health of cancer survivors, including lowering the risk of the formation of second cancer.

It is also notable that although the risk of developing cancer can be greatly reduced by avoiding risk factors, not all cancers are preventable.

Along with the treatment, there are several factors that affect a patient and the family. Coping with cancer involves the process of management or care at each stage of the condition including the screening of Cancer, Cancer Treatment and after cure effect, etc., It includes physical, emotional, and financial factors.

• Managing Emotions
• Talking With Family and Friends
• Caring for a Loved One
• Hearing the Oncologists' Perspective
• Managing Stress
• Coping with Guilt
• Fear of Treatment-Related Side Effects
• Grief and Loss