Haematology / Oncology Haematology/oncology is an area of internal medicine concerned with both benign and malignant blood diseases, malignant illnesses of the lymph nodes and of the lymphatic system, and malignant solid tumours such as breast cancer or lung cancer. The genesis, spread, diagnosis, non-surgical therapies and prophylactic measures of these illnesses are fields of activity with which the internal-medical focus haematology/oncology is concerned.

Another area that remains important is the diagnosis and treatment of haemorrhagic diathesis and thrombophilia. Major and frequent illnesses that require referral to haemato-oncologists are solid tumours, such as lung cancer and breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancer and haematological systemic diseases of leukaemia and lymphoma. With the help of anamnesis, clinical investigation and technical methods of examination, such as ultrasound, imaging procedures, endoscopic examination and controlled organ puncture, microscopic assessment of blood preparations and bone-marrow preparations, and the use of immunocytological and molecular-biology methods, the various haemato-oncological illnesses can be diagnosed. Various treatment approaches, such as chemotherapy, high-dose chemotherapy with blood-stem-cell transplantation, immunotherapy with antibodies and hormonal therapeutic measures are all available. Since the treatment of solid tumours is an interdisciplinary task, certain special techniques and therapeutic measures are taught and applied alongside the main training in haematology/oncology. On the other hand, the training is characterized by close interdisciplinary cooperation with the doctors providing initial treatment from the departments of surgery and radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and also psycho-oncology. A basic knowledge of palliative medicine is also acquired. The treatment is frequently co-ordinated on an interdisciplinary basis in so-called tumour centres. Here, an individual plan of treatment is prepared for the patients. top