Hematologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Haematologist or medical oncologist: who treats what | CION Cancer Clinics
A haematologist treats disorders of the blood, bone marrow and lymph glands, including many that are not cancer, such as thalassaemia or low platelets. A medical oncologist mainly treats solid cancers like breast or lung cancer with medicines. They overlap for blood cancers such as lymphoma. This page explains who usually treats what, when both are involved, and how to decide who to see first. At CION Cancer Clinics, our haematologist reviews abnormal blood reports with you, orders only the tests that answer your question and explains each result plainly.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Basudev PokhrelConsultant Haematologist · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- What is the difference between a haematologist and an oncologist?
- How do the two specialists compare?
- Which conditions usually go to which doctor?
- What happens when both doctors are involved?
- What do the titles and degrees mean?
- What do families often believe about these specialists?
- How do you decide who to see first?
- Common questions about haematologists and oncologists
The short answer
What is the difference between a haematologist and an oncologist?
A haematologist treats disorders of the blood, bone marrow and lymph glands, both cancerous and not. A medical oncologist treats cancers, mainly solid tumours such as breast, lung or bowel cancer, with medicines like chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. The two overlap for blood cancers.
What each one is trained for
Both begin as physicians. A clinical haematologist then trains in blood: low and high counts, clotting and bleeding problems, inherited conditions such as thalassaemia and sickle cell disease, and blood cancers. A medical oncologist trains in cancers across the body, how they spread, and the medicines used to treat them.
Why the difference matters to you
The right specialist saves you a wasted visit. Someone with low platelets from an immune problem needs a haematologist, not an oncologist. Someone with breast cancer whose counts drop during chemotherapy is usually looked after by their oncologist, who calls in a haematologist only if the drop does not behave as expected.
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you which condition you have. It explains who does what, so you can ask the right question when you are referred.
Side by side
How do the two specialists compare?
Haematologist
Medical oncologist
Blood, bone marrow and lymph gland disorders
Cancers of organs and tissues across the body
Treats many conditions that are not cancer
Treats cancer almost entirely
Diagnosis often rests on blood tests and bone marrow
Diagnosis usually rests on a biopsy of a lump and scans
Surgery rarely plays a part in blood cancers
Works closely with surgeons and radiation oncologists
Often follows people with long-term blood conditions for years
Often follows people through a planned course of treatment
Who treats what
Which conditions usually go to which doctor?
A general guide. In some hospitals the lines are drawn slightly differently, and a team may share care.
Usually a haematologist
Blood conditions that are not cancer, and many that need long-term care.
For example
- Low haemoglobin that does not respond to iron
- Thalassaemia and sickle cell disease
- Low platelets caused by the immune system
- Clotting and bleeding disorders
Usually a haematologist or haemato-oncologist
Cancers that start in the blood, bone marrow or lymph glands.
For example
- Leukaemia
- Lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
Usually a medical oncologist
Solid cancers that begin in an organ, where medicines are part of the plan.
For example
- Breast, lung and bowel cancer
- Ovarian and stomach cancer
- Head and neck cancers
Shared or either
Lymphoma is treated by medical oncologists in some centres and haematologists in others. Blood clots in a person with cancer, or counts that stay low after chemotherapy, often bring both doctors together.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistWhere they meet
What happens when both doctors are involved?
Many families meet both specialists. That is normal and usually a good sign that the right people are looking at the problem. The question to ask is who is the lead doctor, the one you call when something changes.
During chemotherapy for a solid cancer
Chemotherapy often lowers blood counts for a while. Your oncologist checks the counts before each cycle and manages the usual dips. A haematologist is brought in if counts do not recover as expected, if a clot forms, or if the pattern hints at a separate blood problem.
When a blood cancer is suspected
A haematologist usually leads. The diagnosis may need a bone marrow test, a lymph gland biopsy and special tests on the cells. A pathologist, radiologist and sometimes a radiation oncologist add their view. At CION, cases are discussed at a tumour board so the plan reflects more than one opinion.
Who this split does not suit
Children are different. Blood cancers in children are usually treated by paediatric haemato-oncologists, not adult specialists of either kind. Ask for a paediatric team if the patient is a child.
CION does not perform bone marrow or stem cell transplants in-house. Where these are needed, the team coordinates care with qualified centres.On a doctor's letterhead
What do the titles and degrees mean?
- Clinical haematologist
- A doctor who sees patients with blood disorders, after specialist training in clinical haematology.
- Haemato-oncologist
- A haematologist who mainly treats blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
- Medical oncologist
- A doctor who treats cancers with medicines, after specialist training in medical oncology.
- Haematopathologist
- A laboratory doctor who reports blood smears and bone marrow samples. They do not usually see patients.
- Paediatric haemato-oncologist
- A children's specialist who treats blood disorders and cancers in children.
- Radiation oncologist
- A doctor who plans and gives radiotherapy. Sometimes involved in lymphoma treatment.
Commonly believed
What do families often believe about these specialists?
"If we are sent to a haematologist, it is blood cancer."
Most people a haematologist sees do not have cancer. Iron problems, inherited blood conditions, clotting troubles and immune-related low platelets fill most clinics. A referral means the problem needs a blood specialist, nothing more.
"An oncologist is more senior, so we should see one instead."
Neither is senior to the other. They trained for different conditions. For leukaemia or a clotting disorder, a haematologist is the right doctor. For a breast lump confirmed as cancer, an oncologist is.
"Seeing two specialists means the doctors are confused."
Shared care is common and usually careful. What matters is that one doctor leads, and that both see the same reports. Ask who that lead doctor is, and keep one file with every report in it.
"Blood cancer is treated with surgery like other cancers."
Blood cancers are rarely treated with surgery, because they are spread through the blood or marrow rather than sitting in one lump. Treatment is usually medicines, sometimes radiotherapy, and for some people a transplant at a specialised centre.
Making the choice
How do you decide who to see first?
Look at what has been found
An abnormal blood count with no lump points to a haematologist. A confirmed solid cancer points to an oncologist.
Check who referred you and why
Ask your physician which specialist they had in mind and what they want ruled out. Write it down.
Ask about the team
Ask whether your case will be discussed with other specialists, and who will lead your care.
Take every report
Old and new blood reports, smear comments, scans and biopsy reports. The first visit goes faster with all of them.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about haematologists and oncologists
Who treats lymphoma, a haematologist or an oncologist?
It depends on the hospital. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph glands, and in some centres haematologists treat it while in others medical oncologists do. Both can be well trained for it. Ask how many people with your type of lymphoma the team looks after, and whether cases go to a tumour board.
Does a haematologist give chemotherapy?
Yes. For blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, the haematologist plans the chemotherapy, targeted medicines and immunotherapy, and follows how the body responds. The medicines are given by trained nurses in a day-care unit or ward, as with any other cancer treatment.
My father has cancer and low counts. Who should see him?
His treating oncologist should see the report first, because low counts during cancer treatment are often an expected effect. If the counts do not recover, keep falling, or come with fever or bleeding, a haematologist may be asked to help. Fever with low counts needs an emergency department the same day.
Is a haematologist the same as a pathologist?
No. A pathologist works in the laboratory and reports what blood, marrow and tissue samples show under the microscope. A clinical haematologist sees you, examines you, and decides on tests and treatment. They work closely, and the pathologist's report is one of the most important papers the haematologist reads.
Can I change from an oncologist to a haematologist?
Yes, if the condition fits a haematologist better, or you want a second opinion. Do not stop or skip any treatment while you arrange it. Ask your current doctor for a summary letter and copies of every report, so the new doctor does not have to start again.
Do haematologists treat children?
Children are usually seen by paediatric haematologists or paediatric haemato-oncologists, who train in both children's medicine and blood conditions. Children's normal blood counts differ from adults', and many childhood blood cancers are treated on different plans. Ask for a paediatric team whenever the patient is a child.
Which specialist is more expensive?
Consultation fees are broadly similar. What changes the cost is the tests and treatment, not the title of the doctor. Ask for an estimate of the likely tests before they are done, and check what Aarogyasri, CGHS, ECHS, EHS, PM-JAY or your insurer covers under their current rules.
Does CION have a haematologist?
Yes. CION's haematology team reviews blood reports, evaluates suspected blood disorders and blood cancers, presents cases at a tumour board and coordinates care. Where a test or treatment such as a transplant is done elsewhere, the team arranges it with qualified centres and tells you what to ask.
Your Haematologist
Meet CION's haematologist. One specialist for your blood report and your plan.
Dr. Basudev Pokhrel reviews blood counts, transfusion needs and blood disorders, and works with the CION tumour board on blood cancers.
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Sources
- American Society of Hematology — Blood disorders: patient education
- Cancer.Net — Types of oncologists
- National Cancer Institute — Blood cancers and related topics
- Blood Cancer UK — Blood Cancer UK
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
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Not sure which specialist you need?
Share your reports with us. CION's team will tell you whether a haematologist or an oncologist should see you first. One helpline serves every CION centre.