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. Iowa has 105 practicing oncologists. Broken out by city, oncology doctor density in Ames is 4, in Atlantic is 2, in Audubon is 1, in Bettendorf is 3, in Bloomfield is 1, in Carroll is 1, in Cedar Rapids is 9, in Centerville is 1, in Clarinda is 1, in Clarion is 1, in Clinton is 1, in Clive is 1, in Council Bluffs is 4, in Davenport is 4, in Denison is 1, in Des Moines is 21, in Dubuque is 6, in East Des Moines is 3, in Eldora is 1, in Estherville is 1, in Grinnell is 1, in Grundy Center is 1, in Guttenberg is 1, in Independence is 1, in Iowa City is 32, in Keosauqua is 1, in Maquoketa is 2, in Marshalltown is 1, in Mason City is 2, in Missouri Valley is 2, in Muscatine is 1, in Oelwein is 1, in Onawa is 1, in Orange City is 1, in Ottumwa is 3, in Pella is 1, in Red Oak is 3, in Robins is 1, in Rock Valley is 1, in Shenandoah is 1, in Sigourney is 2, in Sioux Center is 1, in Sioux City is 5, in Spirit Lake is 1, in Sumner is 1, in Waterloo is 4, and in West Burlington is 4.

Iowa’s capital is Des Moines, home to Drake University. Iowa achieved Statehood 1846, and the state’s population is now 2,996,334. The Mississippi river borders the state on the east, and a majority of the state’s economic output is agricultural. Many cultural and entertainment opportunities exist for visitors to the “quad cities” of Davenport and Bettendorf, IA, and Rock Island and Moline, IL. Numerous museums, arts, music and sports events are available in Iowa, including the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, the Amana Colonies, and the Buffalo Bill Cody Homestead. Famous people born in Iowa: Buffalo Bill, entertainers Johnny Carson and John Wayne, and former president Herbert Hoover.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Iowa has a population of 2,966,334. Of this population, 656,031 are under the age of 18 and 434,196 are at or above the age of 65.