Cancer Prostate Cancer Treatment Print What Types of Doctors Are Involved in Prostate Cancer Care? Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD on February 21, 2019 Doru Paul, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Doru Paul, MD Written by linkedin Written by Matthew Schmitz, MD Matthew Schmitz, MD, is a professional radiologist who has worked extensively with prostate cancer patients and their families. Learn about our editorial policy Matthew Schmitz, MD Updated on September 28, 2019 Prostate Cancer Overview Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Coping Caiaimage / Paul Bradbury / OJO+ / Getty Images During the course of your prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care, you will likely be working with a number of different types of physicians. Getting a basic idea of what each of these physicians does and what type of training they have undergone can help you better understand how their efforts work in concert to help you address your disease. General Practitioner The first physician most men see for the majority of their medical problems or routine screening is their general practitioner. There are two types of general practitioners: internists and family doctors. Both are qualified to perform the digital rectal examination and make the first interpretation of your PSA test, as well as oversee your other general medical issues. Digital Rectal Exam: What to Expect Internist Internists are trained to treat adult patients only. They do not see children or deliver babies. They have to undergo three years of training in internal medicine after medical school, much of which is spent working with patients in the hospital. They typically split their time between seeing patients in their office and seeing patients in the hospital. Family Doctor This type of physician is trained to treat patients from infants to adults and may also do some obstetrics. Family doctors complete three years of training in family medicine after medical school before they practice independently. They typically do less work in hospitals and more work in clinic or office settings than internists. Specialist Physicians and Surgeons After a screening, a general practitioner may refer you to one of the following specialists, who each play different roles in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. Urologist Urologists are physicians who are trained specifically to deal with conditions of the male reproductive organs and of both the male and female urinary tracts. They are considered to be sub-specialized surgeons who must also have knowledge of internal medicine, gynecology, and other fields in order to treat the variety of urological conditions they see. Urologists are required to complete a five-year training period following medical school—one year in general surgery and the remainder in urologic surgery. A visit with the urologist is probably the most common next step after having an irregularity detected by your general practitioner. In most areas, urologists are available and are the most likely surgeons to perform prostate surgery, but in some more rural areas, there may be no urologists available. An Overview of Prostate Surgery Radiation Oncologist Radiation oncologists are physicians trained to treat cancer and other conditions with radiation. They are involved in the evaluation of cancer patients and plan exactly how radiation treatments will be administered. They must undergo a five-year training period after medical school, which includes one year of general medicine and four years of radiation oncology. If you are considering radiation therapy as an option for treating your prostate cancer, then you should plan to visit a radiation oncologist for their input about your specific set of circumstances. How Radiation Therapy Works Radiologist Radiologists are physicians who use medical imaging technologies such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to diagnose medical conditions. Additionally, some radiologists (called interventional radiologists) are trained to use imaging technologies to treat certain conditions. Radiologists must complete five years of training after medical school, including one year of general medicine and four years of radiology. You will likely only have direct contact with a radiologist if you undergo certain specific imaging tests to diagnose or stage your cancer, or if an interventional radiologist is involved in your care (by, for example, performing a lymph node biopsy). Pathologist Pathologists are physicians who are trained to diagnose diseases by examining body tissues and fluids. When you undergo a biopsy or any tissue is removed from your body—such as in the lymph nodes or prostate itself—a pathologist is the doctor who will examine it, both with the naked eye and under a microscope, for evidence of cancer or another disease. Pathologists must complete four to five years of training following medical school. Medical Oncologist Medical oncologists are trained in the proper use of chemotherapy and other therapies to treat cancer. Because prostate cancer is not usually treated with chemotherapy, you are unlikely to see this type of physician, though it is possible. Medical oncologists have completed three years of internal medicine training as well as three to four more years of sub-specialty training in medical oncology. A Word From Verywell While some of the doctors involved in your prostate cancer journey may work together directly, others may not. Nevertheless, for the best care, it's important that information on your case is shared amongst them. Shared medical records help this, of course, but you may also be assigned a case manager whose job (among other things) is to coordinate communication amongst practitioners. You may also encounter nurses and a variety of other healthcare professionals as you are treated. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Limiting processed foods and red meats can help ward off cancer risk. These recipes focus on antioxidant-rich foods to better protect you and your loved ones. Sign up and get your guide! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Continue Reading