Oncology is the study and treatment of cancer and tumors. An oncologist is a physician who diagnoses and treats cancer patients. The oncologist sometimes uses chemotherapy, and consults with other physicians to coordinate other methods of cancer treatments for a patient. Cancer patients need to take in to account the likelihood of a cure, or of prolonging life when cure is not possible, the effect of treatment on their symptoms, and the side effects of the treatment. People who are candidates for radiation therapy or anti-cancer drugs need to understand the risks involved with treatment. An oncologist can help to counsel a patient on treatment options and what to expect.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are colon cancer, breast disease, spinal cord tumors, melanoma, skin cancer, breast cancer, bone marrow, hodgkin's disease, lymphoma, mesothelioma, sarcoma, lung cancer, leukemia, pancreatic cancer, cervical cancer, liver cancer, mesothelioma cancer (asbestos cancer), brain cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, and bone cancer.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including colonoscopy, breast reconstruction, chemotherapy, brachytherapy, cryosurgery, mastectomy, cryotherapy, cabg, breast surgery, surgery, radiotherapy, bone marrow transplantation (bmt), adjuvant therapy, monoclonal antibody treatments, external beam radiotherapy, hormone manipulation, and immunotherapies.

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including biopsy, mri scanning, beta- hcg, ct scanning, x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (mri), computed axial tomography (ct or cat scan), ultrasound, endoscopy, nse, cea, blood tests, ca 125, tumor markers, beta hcg, positron emission tomography, scintigraphy, psa, and alpha fetoprotein.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Florida has 719 practicing oncologists. Broken out by city, oncology doctor density in Altamonte Springs is 17, in Aventura is 16, in Bartow is 2, in Belle Glade is 1, in Boca Raton is 23, in Bonita Springs is 20, in Boynton Beach is 30, in Bradenton is 17, in Brooksville is 9, in Cape Coral is 13, in Clearwater is 13, in Clermont is 8, in Cocoa Beach is 6, in Coral Gables is 1, in Coral Springs is 8, in Crestview is 2, in Crystal River is 2, in Daytona Beach is 10, in Deerfield Beach is 3, in Delray Beach is 10, in Deltona is 1, in Destin is 3, in Fernandina Beach is 2, in Fort Lauderdale is 27, in Fort Myers is 21, in Fort Pierce is 4, in Fort Walton Beach is 4, in Gainesville is 25, in Greenacres is 1, in Hialeah is 11, in Hollywood is 21, in Inverness is 1, in Jacksonville is 63, in Jacksonville Beach is 1, in Jupiter is 14, in Key West is 2, in Kissimmee is 15, in Lady Lake is 11, in Lake City is 3, in Lake Mary is 4, in Lake Wales is 2, in Lake Worth is 13, in Lakeland is 9, in Largo is 7, in Lauderdale Lakes is 3, in Lauderhill is 3, in Leesburg is 8, in Longwood is 2, in Margate is 1, in Melbourne is 14, in Miami is 92, in Miami Beach is 12, in Naples is 11, in New Port Richey is 19, in New Smyrna Beach is 5, in North Miami is 1, in North Miami Beach is 2, in Oakland Park is 1, in Ocala is 12, in Ocoee is 8, in Orange City is 5, in Orange Park is 10, in Orlando is 39, in Ormond Beach is 15, in Palatka is 8, in Palm Beach Gardens is 4, in Palm Coast is 9, in Panama City is 6, in Pembroke Pines is 14, in Pensacola is 17, in Pinellas Park is 1, in Plant City is 4, in Plantation is 9, in Pompano Beach is 7, in Port Orange is 2, in Punta Gorda is 2, in Rockledge is 4, in Safety Harbor is 7, in Sanford is 4, in Sarasota is 15, in Sebastian is 1, in Sebring is 3, in Seminole is 2, in South Miami is 2, in South Pasadena is 7, in Stuart is 8, in Sunrise is 2, in Tallahassee is 5, in Tamarac is 10, in Tampa is 96, in Tarpon Springs is 1, in Tavares is 2, in Titusville is 7, in Venice is 7, in Vero Beach is 8, in West Palm Beach is 21, in Weston is 4, in Winter Haven is 2, in Winter Park is 12, and in Zephyrhills is 4.

Florida’s warm and humid subtropical climate makes it a winter destination for many. Population in 2000 was 15,982,378, according to census statistics. Tallahassee, located in the north panhandle area, is the state capital. Tourism is a major industry in Florida, with Cape Canaveral, Disney World, the Everglades National Park, Universal Studios, the Atlantic coast and the Gulf coast all destinations for visitors and residents. Year-round outdoor activities include camping, golf, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing and boating.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Florida has a population of 17,789,864. Of this population, 3,975,071 are under the age of 18 and 2,978,335 are at or above the age of 65.