Frequently Asked Questions

What is an oncologist or hematologist?

Oncologists are doctors of Internal Medicine who have completed additional years of training in the treatment of cancer. They diagnose, treat, and provide long-term supervision for patients who have cancer. All physicians of Woodlands Medical Specialists have studied oncology (cancer) and passed rigorous national tests to be board certified in oncology.

Hematologists are doctors of Internal Medicine who have completed additional years of training in the treatment of blood diseases, such as platelet disorders, clotting problems, and cancers of the blood. Woodlands Medical Specialists has physicians who are board certified in both oncology and hematology.

What is cancer?

Normal cells grow in an orderly process. They are programmed by the body to grow, multiply, mature, and become specialized in a controlled way then die. Sometimes the orderly process goes wrong and cancer cells begin to form and grow. Cancer cells follow no rules. They grow rapidly without control and without purpose except to divide and form more cancer cells.

When cancer cells begin to multiply, they may form a growth or tumor. When the tumor grows and spreads it is called malignant. Malignant tumors spread to and invade other organs and parts of the body causing damage and death to normal cells and organs. Cancers that do not form tumors may form in the blood or organs that produce blood. These tumors may spread through the blood or lymph system and invade other tissue and organs.

What causes cancer?

We don't always know the cause of someone's cancer, but personal habits, genetic susceptibility, and/or exposure to agents cause a large percentage of cancers. The most commonly identified causes of cancer include smoking, exposure to sunlight, radiation, chemicals, or certain viruses or bacteria, drinking too much alcohol, family history of cancer, poor diet, lack of exercise, obesity, and growing old. Smoking is the most preventable cause of cancer-related death in the United States.

How is cancer treated?

Cancer is treated in many ways but the main types of treatment are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and biologic therapies. Surgery and radiation remove and destroy the tumor. Chemotherapy, hormone and biologic therapy, and bone marrow transplantation are therapies to destroy cancer cells that have spread away from the main (primary) tumor and have invaded other organs or tissues.

Cancer treatment is based on each patient's unique condition. The type of cancer, the stage of the cancer, the patient's general state of health, and other factors, including the patient’s preferences, determine treatment.

Different cancers respond to particular treatments, so it is essential to identify the type of cancer to know what treatments will be most effective. The cancer's stage (how widespread it is) is also a factor in determining the best course of treatment. The patient’s overall health, lifestyle, and personal preferences also play a part in deciding which treatment options are best.

What does chemotherapy do?

While surgery and radiation therapy are used to treat localized cancers, chemotherapy is typically used to treat cancer cells that have metastasized (spread) to other parts of the body. Depending on the type of cancer and its stage of development, chemotherapy can be used to cure cancer, to keep the cancer from spreading, to slow the cancer's growth, to kill cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body, or to relieve symptoms caused by cancer.

Chemotherapy is treatment with powerful medicines that are most often given by mouth or by injection, usually into a vein. Unlike radiation therapy or surgery, chemotherapy drugs can treat cancers that have spread throughout the body, because they travel throughout the body in the bloodstream. Often, combinations of chemotherapy drugs are used instead of a single drug.

What are the side effects of chemotherapy?

Development of remarkable drugs in recent years has made it possible for patients to receive chemotherapy without fear of harsh and debilitating side effects. Just as each patient is unique in how they tolerate chemotherapy, each chemotherapy drug has its own set of side effects. Identical chemotherapy drugs may affect patients in different ways or severity.

The most common side effects of chemotherapy include nausea and vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, an increased chance of bruising and bleeding, and getting an infection. However, all chemotherapy drugs do not cause all these symptoms and some chemotherapy drugs may cause no symptoms whatsoever.

We promise our patients that we will do everything to make their treatments as comfortable and anxiety-free as possible. Most side effects are predictable, and with good patient education and communication, many side effects may be avoided or managed to a satisfactory degree. When severe side effects are experienced, the unpleasantness of those side effects must be weighed against the benefit received from the treatment.

How do I know if I need to see an oncologist or hematologist?

Oncologists or hematologists are usually requested to see a patient when a diagnosis of cancer or blood disease is suspected or has been confirmed. They may be called in to see a patient who is in the hospital, or a family doctor or another specialist may refer a patient to the oncologist's office for evaluation and treatment.

What can I expect on my first visit to Woodlands Medical Specialists?

Before you arrive at our office for your first visit, we will obtain your medical records. On your first visit to our office, you will meet with a Woodlands doctor and possibly an oncology Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner for a complete medical evaluation. This visit will include a thorough review of your medical history, a comprehensive exam, a review of your diagnosis, and an evaluation of your treatment options. Please bring all your medications with you to every doctor visit.

Prior to your appointment, we ask that you complete our new patient forms so we can make your visit as easy and comprehensive as possible. All information provided to us is strictly confidential and is not released to anyone without your written permission.

Will you accept my insurance?

We participate in many insurance programs and are pleased to process claims with all insurance carriers. You are assigned a personal insurance coordinator who is familiar with your account. Contact your insurance coordinator during working hours at 850.696.4000

While your insurance agreement is a contract between you and your insurance company, we will work diligently with you to file your claims and advise you about the financial aspects of your visits.

How do I refill prescriptions?

Our phone nurses process medication refills during regular office hours. Call your pharmacy and ask them to contact us for refills. Strong pain medications cannot be refilled by telephone or fax, and you must come to the office to obtain the prescription. Please call the phone nurse or pharmacy several days before you run out of a medication so there is adequate time to process your request. The policy of Woodlands Medical Specialists is to refill medications only during regular office hours.

What do I do if I have an emergency?

If you have an emergency medical problem at any time, call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency room.

What do I do if I have an urgent medical problem but I don't think it is an emergency?

If you have an urgent medical problem, call our office. After regular office hours, you can leave a message with our answering service and they will quickly relay the message to our physician on call. The physician will contact you as soon as possible. The answering service and one of our physicians is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for urgent medical problems.

What is an urgent medical problem?

Urgent medical problems include sudden onset of any severe new pain, temperature of 100.5 or greater, hard shaking chills, uncontrolled pain, bleeding or burning with urination, sudden drop in blood pressure, or sudden shortness of breath. These symptoms may be indications of life-threatening infections or problems for patients who are undergoing chemotherapy treatment and must be reported to our physicians immediately.