A medical oncologist, for example, is a doctor who is specially trained to diagnose and treat cancer with chemotherapy and other drugs. If radiation therapy is part of your treatment plan, a dosimetrist will plan and calculate the proper radiation dose for your treatment.

Knowing who’s who among the medical specialists, nurses and other health care professionals involved in your care empowers you to take an active role in your health, as well as to work together with your cancer care team in making informed decisions. The following guide identifies many of the health professionals involved in caring for people with cancer.

anesthesiologist: a doctor who specializes in giving medicines or other agents that prevent or relieve pain, especially during surgery.

case manager: the member of a cancer care team, usually a nurse or oncology nurse specialist, who coordinates the patient's care throughout diagnosis, treatment and recovery. The case manager is a new concept that provides a guide through the complex system of health care by helping cut through red tape, getting responses to questions, managing crises and connecting the patient and family to needed resources.

chaplain: a member of the clergy who provides for the spiritual needs of the patient and family.

dermatologist: a doctor who specializes in skin diseases.

dietitian/registered dietitian/nutritionist: an expert in the area of food and diet; a registered dietitian (RD) has at least a bachelor's degree and has passed a national competency exam; the term nutritionist is also used, but there are no educational requirements associated with this title.

dosimetrist: a person who plans and calculates the proper radiation dose for cancer treatment.

endocrinologist: A doctor who specializes in diseases related to the glands of the endocrine system, e.g., the thyroid, pancreas, and adrenal glands.

enterostomal therapist: a health professional, often a nurse, who teaches people how to care for ostomies (surgically created openings such as a colostomy) and other wounds.

gastroenterologist : a doctor who specializes in diseases of the digestive (gastrointestinal) tract.

genetic counselor: a specially trained health professional who helps people as they consider genetic testing, as they adjust to the test results and as they consider whatever screening and preventive measures are best for them.

gynecologic oncologist: a doctor who specializes in cancers of women's reproductive organs.

gynecologist: a doctor who specializes in women's health.

hematologist: a doctor who specializes in diseases of the blood and blood-forming tissues.

home health nurse: a nurse who gives medications in the home, teaches patients how to care for themselves and assesses their condition to see if further medical attention is needed.

medical oncologist: a doctor who is specially trained to diagnose and treat cancer with chemotherapy and other drugs.

neonatologist: a doctor who specializes in the care of the newborn (until about six weeks of age).

nephrologist: a doctor who specializes in diseases of the kidneys.

neurosurgeon: a doctor specializing in operations to treat nervous system disorders.

nurse practitioner: a registered nurse with a master's or doctoral degree. Licensed nurse practitioners diagnose and manage illness and disease, usually working closely with a doctor. In many states, they may prescribe medications.

occupational therapist: a specially trained therapist who works with people who have disabilities to help them relearn how to perform daily activities.

oncologist: a doctor with special training in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

oncology clinical nurse specialist: a registered nurse with a master's degree in oncology nursing who specializes in the care of cancer patients. Oncology nurse specialists may prepare and administer treatments, monitor patients, prescribe and provide supportive care and teach and counsel patients and their families.

oncology social worker: A person with a master's degree in social work who is an expert in coordinating and providing non-medical care to cancer patients. The oncology social worker provides counseling and assistance to people with cancer and their families, especially in dealing with the non-medical issues that can result from cancer, such as financial problems, housing (when treatments must be taken at a facility away from home) and child care.

ophthalmologist: a medical doctor who specializes in diseases of the eye.

oral and maxillofacial surgeon: a surgeon who specializes in surgery of the mouth, jaw, and face.

orthopedic surgeon: a surgeon who specializes in diseases and injuries of the bones.

otolaryngologist: a doctor who specializes in diseases of the ear, nose and throat. Also called a head and neck surgeon.

pain specialist: oncologists, neurologists, anesthesiologists, neurosurgeons and other doctors, nurses or pharmacists who are experts in pain. A team of health professionals may also be available to address issues of pain control.

pathologist: A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and classification of diseases by laboratory tests such as examination of tissue and cells under a microscope. The pathologist determines whether a tumor is benign or cancerous, and, if cancerous, the exact cell type and grade.

pediatrician: a doctor who specializes in the care of children.

pediatric oncologist: a doctor who specializes in cancers of children.

physical therapist: health professionals who use exercises and other methods to restore or maintain the body's strength, mobility, and function.

plastic and reconstructive surgeon: a surgeon specializing in restoring appearance or in the reconstruction of removed or injured body parts.

primary care physician: the doctor a person would normally see first when a problem arises. A primary care doctor could be a general practitioner, a family practice doctor, a gynecologist, a pediatrician or an internal medicine doctor (an internist).

psychiatrist: a medical doctor specializing in mental health and behavioral disorders. Psychiatrists provide counseling and can also prescribe medications.

psychologist: a health professional who assesses a person's mental and emotional status and provides counseling.

radiation oncologist: a doctor who specializes in the use of radiation to treat cancer.

radiation therapist: a person with special training to work the equipment that delivers radiation therapy.

radiologic technologist: a health professional (not a doctor) trained to position patients for x-rays, take the images and then develop and check the images for quality. The films taken by the technologist are sent to a radiologist to be read.

radiologist: A doctor with special training in diagnosing diseases by interpreting x-rays and other types of imaging studies, for example, CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging.

respiratory therapist: under the direction of a doctor, the respiratory therapist gives breathing treatments and helps manage patients on ventilators.

sexual therapist: a mental health professional with special training in counseling people about sexual changes, problems and communication (for example, after treatment for cancer).

social worker: a health professional who helps people find community resources and provides counseling and guidance to assist with issues such as insurance coverage and nursing home placement.

speech therapist: a person specially trained to work with people who have lost the ability to speak or to speak clearly. Speech therapists help re-establish communication skills and also make sure that patients can easily eat and drink.

surgeon: a doctor who performs operations.

surgical oncologist: a doctor who specializes in using surgery to treat cancer.

thoracic surgeon: a doctor who performs surgery to the chest cavity.

urologist: a doctor who specializes in treating problems of the urinary tract in men and women, and of the genital area in men.