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 579 practicing oncologists. Broken out by city, oncology doctor density in Altamonte Springs is 15, in Aventura is 10, in Bartow is 1, in Boca Raton is 22, in Bonita Springs is 21, in Boynton Beach is 26, in Bradenton is 18, in Brooksville is 7, in Cape Coral is 13, in Clearwater is 10, in Clermont is 5, in Clewiston is 1, in Cocoa Beach is 7, in Coral Gables is 1, in Coral Springs is 5, in Crestview is 3, in Crystal River is 2, in Daytona Beach is 8, in Deerfield Beach is 4, in Delray Beach is 10, in Deltona is 1, in Destin is 2, in Fernandina Beach is 2, in Fort Lauderdale is 22, in Fort Myers is 24, in Fort Pierce is 4, in Fort Walton Beach is 4, in Gainesville is 24, in Hialeah is 9, in Hollywood is 19, in Homestead is 1, in Inverness is 2, in Jacksonville is 50, in Jacksonville Beach is 4, in Jupiter is 10, in Key West is 1, in Kissimmee is 8, in Lady Lake is 14, in Lake City is 3, in Lake Mary is 5, in Lake Wales is 2, in Lake Worth is 10, in Lakeland is 10, in Largo is 9, in Lauderdale Lakes is 1, in Lauderhill is 2, in Leesburg is 11, in Longwood is 2, in Margate is 1, in Melbourne is 12, in Miami is 77, in Miami Beach is 10, in Milton is 1, in Naples is 9, in New Port Richey is 19, in New Smyrna Beach is 5, in North Miami Beach is 3, in Ocala is 11, in Ocoee is 8, in Orange City is 4, in Orange Park is 10, in Orlando is 36, in Ormond Beach is 12, in Palatka is 8, in Palm Beach Gardens is 3, in Palm Coast is 8, in Panama City is 1, in Parkland is 1, in Pembroke Pines is 13, in Pensacola is 16, in Pinellas Park is 1, in Plant City is 5, in Plantation is 3, in Pompano Beach is 5, in Port Orange is 2, in Punta Gorda is 1, in Rockledge is 5, in Safety Harbor is 9, in Sanford is 3, in Sarasota is 12, in Sebastian is 1, in Sebring is 4, in Seminole is 2, in South Miami is 3, in South Pasadena is 5, in Stuart is 8, in Sunrise is 2, in Tallahassee is 4, in Tamarac is 8, in Tampa is 62, in Tarpon Springs is 2, in Tavares is 4, in Titusville is 7, in Venice is 7, in Vero Beach is 4, in West Palm Beach is 15, in Weston is 2, in Winter Haven is 4, in Winter Park is 13, 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.