Medical Oncology is one of the three pillars of cancer treatment along with surgery and radiotherapy. It deals with treatment of cancer using drugs which kill cancer cells. Aims of the treatment include cure, prolongation of life, relief of symptoms and providing good quality of life, depending on the extent of disease at presentation. Recent years have seen the advent of several new chemotherapy drugs and also targeted therapy to help achieve the above-mentioned aims.

Medical Oncology Involves:

• Chemotherapy: These are drugs which kill cancer cells or stop their growth. However, they also act on normal body cells, thus leading to side effects.
• Targeted Therapy: These drugs target cancer cells specifically, sparing normal cells, thus limiting side effects.
• Hormonal Therapy: This involves use of hormonal agents for prevention and treatment of certain cancers such as breast cancer and prostate cancer.