Medical oncology as a discipline

Abstract

Medical oncology has become a major subspecialty discipline of internal medicine within only 25 years. The special skill of oncologists is judgement in matters relating to cancer. This specialty brought the necessary expertise for cancer management into the community, improved care of patients with cancer worldwide, and provided a significant impact on cancer education and cancer research. Current manpower needs have been met but the ultimate in desired services are not apparent. Attempts to merge hematology and oncology are unwarranted. The future for medical oncology will be challenging, especially to meet the expanding needs of geriatric oncology.