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. Indiana has 196 practicing oncologists. Broken out by city, oncology doctor density in Anderson is 5, in Angola is 1, in Arcadia is 1, in Auburn is 2, in Avon is 22, in Batesville is 2, in Bedford is 2, in Beech Grove is 4, in Bloomington is 7, in Boonville is 1, in Brazil is 2, in Carmel is 14, in Charlestown is 2, in Chesterton is 3, in Clinton is 1, in Columbus is 3, in Connersville is 3, in Corydon is 2, in Crawfordsville is 1, in Crown Point is 1, in Danville is 6, in Decatur is 1, in Elkhart is 6, in Elwood is 4, in Evansville is 10, in Fishers is 14, in Fort Wayne is 9, in Frankfort is 2, in Franklin is 4, in Gary is 1, in Goshen is 3, in Greencastle is 1, in Greenfield is 7, in Greensburg is 1, in Hammond is 1, in Highland is 1, in Hobart is 4, in Indianapolis is 78, in Jeffersonville is 7, in Kokomo is 3, in La Porte is 4, in Lafayette is 9, in Lawrenceburg is 4, in Lebanon is 7, in Logansport is 3, in Madison is 5, in Marion is 4, in Martinsville is 1, in Merrillville is 18, in Michigan City is 4, in Mishawaka is 3, in Mooresville is 2, in Muncie is 3, in Munster is 10, in New Albany is 5, in New Castle is 1, in Newburgh is 5, in Noblesville is 7, in Paoli is 2, in Peru is 1, in Plymouth is 6, in Portage is 2, in Porter is 2, in Princeton is 1, in Richmond is 2, in Rushville is 1, in Salem is 1, in Scottsburg is 1, in Seymour is 2, in Shelbyville is 3, in South Bend is 10, in Spencer is 1, in Sullivan is 1, in Terre Haute is 9, in Tipton is 3, in Valparaiso is 3, in Vincennes is 5, in Warsaw is 1, in Washington is 1, and in Winamac is 1.

Indiana’s population is 6,271,973, and most of the state’s population is located in the north, near the Lake Michigan shoreline, and is part of the greater metro Chicago area. Indiana became a state in 1816, and boasts many historical sites and covered bridges, numerous state parks and forests, hunting and fishing, and a variety of golf courses. Centrally located Indianapolis is home to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, hosting the world-famous 500-mile auto race every year. This capital and largest city of Indiana also hosts a Civil War museum, a planetarium, and the Indiana Historical Society, among many other attractions.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Indiana has a population of 6,271,973. Of this population, 1,566,280 are under the age of 18 and 774,303 are at or above the age of 65.