Choosing a Cancer Doctor
When you or a family member has cancer, one of the first and most important steps is finding the right doctor to manage your care. Getting the best possible medical treatment starts with choosing a cancer doctor (oncologist) you trust.
This process can take time, but it’s worth the effort. You’ll want to find a doctor who has the right experience and expertise but also makes you feel comfortable and respected. Having the right doctor can help you feel more confident and in control during a very difficult time.
Types of cancer doctors (oncologists)
You’ll need to look for a doctor who treats your type of cancer. Make sure you understand the type of cancer you have and what kind of doctor you’ll need to see. Based on the type of cancer you have, you may need more than one. The most common types of cancer doctors include:
- Medical oncologists
- Hematologist oncologists
- Surgical oncologists
- Radiation oncologists
Some types of cancer doctors specialize in certain body systems (like breast surgeons or gynecologic oncologists) or specific ages (like pediatric or geriatric oncologists). Some may limit their services to people with specific types of cancer. This can be extra helpful if you have a rare type of cancer or one that is hard to treat.
Where to start: Ask for referrals
You may be just starting your cancer care journey, or you may need to add a new doctor while your cancer treatment is ongoing. A good way to start your search is by asking people you trust for referrals. The doctor who suspects you may have cancer or who diagnosed your cancer, often your primary care doctor, is a great place to begin.
Try asking:
- If you or someone close to you had this cancer, which doctor would you choose for treatment?
- If you were in my place, which doctor would you see first?
Often, your doctor will give you a recommendation even if you don’t ask. Try to get the names of at least two or three doctors and ask what their specialties are.
Other people to ask include:
- Friends or family
- Doctors, nurses, or other health care professionals
- People you know who have been treated for the type of cancer you have
- Hospital or community physician referral services
- Patient advocacy groups websites
If you choose a doctor outside your current clinic, remember to also transfer medical records and information from your current health care team to the new team.
Trusted directories of cancer doctors
There are also online national directories of medical doctors, including those that specialize in cancer.* Each provides a search option so you can look for the type of doctor you need. These include:
- American Board of Medical Specialties allows you to the specialty, certification, and location of any of their member physicians.
- American College of Surgeons allows you to by location, specialty (like colorectal surgery), and subspecialty (like breast surgery).
- American Medical Association on most licensed US physicians.
- American Society of Hematology (ASH) helps people with blood cancers (lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma) and other blood disorders in their area.
- American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) allows you to by location and interest.
- Foundation for Women’s Cancer/Society of Gynecologic Oncology helps (like ovarian, uterine, cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers).
- Society of Urologic Oncology helps you (like prostate, bladder, kidney, testicular, and penile cancers).
*Inclusion of a health care professional in any of these databases does not imply endorsement by the American Cancer Society.
If you have health insurance, you should check the names you get against their list of network doctors. Usually, you can do this online or by calling the member services hotline. Medicare offers a searchable of doctors who accept Medicare.
Things to consider when choosing a doctor
When choosing a cancer doctor, think about the qualities that are important to you. There are key things to keep in mind as you do your research and talk with a doctor for the first time that can help you decide if they’re the right fit for you.
Experience
You’ll want a doctor who stays up to date with the latest standards, guidelines, and research for treating your type of cancer. If you’re considering surgery or a special procedure, find out how often the doctor performs it and how experienced they are with it.
Ask:
- How long have you been practicing medicine, and how much experience do you have with my specific cancer (or with this procedure)?
- How many people do you treat each year with my cancer type?
- Are you or is someone in the office involved in clinical trials of new treatments?
Board certification and training
Board-certified doctors have had extra training and have passed high-level exams in special areas, like medical oncology (cancer care), hematology (diseases of the blood), or gynecologic surgery (female reproductive system). To keep their certification, doctors must continue to keep up with advances and changes in their specialty area. Not all doctors who are specialists are board certified, and doctors don’t need to be board certified to be excellent caregivers. Still, many doctors become board certified in at least one specialty.
Location and practice setting
The location of the doctor and the type of setting where they provide care can be important when choosing a cancer doctor. If you have a rare or hard-to-treat cancer, the nearest specialist may be far from home. People in rural areas may also have fewer local options.
Consider:
Are this doctor and the hospital covered by my health insurance?
If I need surgery or hospital care, where would I go?
What are the office hours?
Does this doctor work in more than one location?
Are there parking fees? Or, is transportation available when needed?
If this doctor or cancer center is far from home, where will I stay during treatment? How long may I have to be away for?
How can I reach them outside of office hours?
Who will care for me if the doctor is away?
Communication style and bedside manner
Some people prefer doctors who are more businesslike, while others want a doctor who also supports their emotional well-being. When getting recommendations, you can ask about the doctor’s style, but often you won’t really know until you meet them. If possible, try to set up a time to talk with the doctor and their staff either in person or through a telehealth visit. This can help you get a feel for how they communicate and if you’ll feel comfortable working with them.
Ability to explain things clearly and answer questions
A new cancer diagnosis can feel like entering a foreign country – full of unfamiliar words, medical terms, treatment plans, and major lifestyle changes. Having a doctor that can easily explain things and answer your questions can make all the difference.
Access to other specialists and support services
Having access to other specialists and support services helps to make sure that all parts of your care are covered – including your emotional, social, and everyday needs. Knowing who makes up your cancer care team helps you better understand who’ll be involved in your care and what type of support they can provide if it’s needed.
Other qualities
Other qualities that may be important to you when choosing a cancer doctor are the ability to speak a specific language, or having a doctor of a certain gender, age, or cultural background. These factors can help you feel more comfortable, understood, and respected during your care. Everyone is different, so take time to think about what matters most to you and include those priorities in your search.
Read How to Choose a Cancer Doctor to find tips on how to find cancer doctors and questions that can help you decide the best fit for you.
Second opinions
Even after you have chosen your doctor, you may want to get a second opinion. This is a good idea if you feel uncertain about the proposed treatment. For instance, if you have prostate cancer and a urologist has recommended surgery, you may want to see a radiation oncologist to learn about nonsurgical treatment.
We have more on the steps you can take to get a second opinion on your cancer treatment plan.
- Written by
- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
American Board of Medical Specialties. What is ABMS board certification? Accessed at https://www.abms.org/board-certification/ on July 30, 2025.
American College of Surgeons. Commission on Cancer: Standards and resources. Accessed at https://www.facs.org/quality-programs/cancer-porgrams/commission-on-cancer/standards-and-resources on July 30, 2025.
American Society of Clinical Oncology. Choosing a doctor for your cancer care. Accessed at www.cancer.net. Content is no longer available.
National Cancer Institute (NCI). Finding cancer care. Cancer.gov. Updated August 28, 2024. Accessed at https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/managing-care/finding-cancer-care on July 30. 2025.
Last Revised: August 8, 2025
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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