Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. A medical professional who practices oncology is an oncologist. Cancer survival has improved due to three main components: improved prevention efforts to reduce exposure to risk factors (e.g., tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption), improve screening of several cancers (allowing for earlier diagnosis), and improvements in treatment.

Cancers are often managed through discussion on multi-disciplinary cancer conferences where medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and organ-specific oncologists meet to find the best possible management for an individual patient considering the physical, social, psychological, emotional, and financial status of the patient. It is very important for oncologists to keep up-to-date with the latest advancements in oncology, as changes in the management of cancer are quite common. Because a cancer diagnosis can cause distress and anxiety, clinicians may use a number of strategies such as SPIKES for delivering the bad news.