Individualized treatment planning
A treatment plan is built from the confirmed diagnosis, tumour type and subtype, stage, pathology and biomarker findings, previous treatment, organ function and the patient's overall health and priorities.
Medical oncology
Systemic cancer treatment, planned for one patient at a time.
Medical oncology covers the drug treatment of cancer — and the assessment, planning, monitoring and supportive care that make that treatment work as intended.
How planning works
Treatment follows assessment, not the other way round.
Multidisciplinary coordination
Medical oncology works with pathology, radiology, surgical and radiation oncology and — where molecular findings are relevant — Molecular Tumor Board review.
Treatment monitoring
Response assessment, laboratory monitoring, side-effect review and dose or schedule review are part of ongoing care, not separate add-ons.
Where treatment is given
Prescribed systemic treatment is administered and monitored in the oncology day care centre. Selected supportive care may be provided at home after clinical assessment.
Systemic treatment types
The main categories of drug treatment.
These are described for understanding. Whether any of them applies to a particular patient depends on diagnosis, stage, biomarkers, overall health and specialist assessment.
Chemotherapy
Cytotoxic systemic treatment, used in curative, adjuvant, neoadjuvant or palliative contexts depending on the clinical situation.
Targeted therapy
Treatment directed at a specific molecular alteration, where such an alteration has been identified and a suitable agent exists.
Immunotherapy
Treatment that acts on immune regulation, considered in cancers and biomarker settings where its role is established.
Hormone therapy
Hormone-directed treatment in hormone-sensitive cancers, such as some breast and prostate cancers.
Antibody-drug conjugates
Antibody-directed delivery of a cytotoxic payload, used in specific biomarker-defined settings.
Supportive treatment
Treatment aimed at symptoms, comfort and tolerance of therapy, provided alongside cancer treatment.
Related
Where medical oncology connects.
Discuss a treatment plan with a medical oncologist.
Treatment decisions are made after reviewing your diagnosis, reports and clinical assessment.