Tom Wiklund

Tom Wiklund is working as Specialist in Medical Oncology at Docrates Cancer Center. Wiklund’s main areas of expertise are sarcoma, lymphoma and breast and testicular cancer as well as long-term side effects of cancer treatment.

Wiklund has extensive experience in clinical work and international cooperation. He has been active in many Nordic cancer groups. He has also collaborated on cancer registries in Finland and the U.S.

Wiklund graduated as a doctor in Helsinki in 1983. Wiklund began his cancer specialist studies in Vaasa and completed his degree in Helsinki in 1986. In 1993, Wiklund defended his doctoral thesis of soft tissue sarcoma under the guidance of professors Inkeri Elomaa and Carl Blomqvist. He  he was appointed Adjunct Professor of Medical Oncology and Radiotherapy, University of Helsinki 1996.

While working in the pharmaceutical industry, Wiklund learned to understand drug research. Tom Wiklund is interested in oncology due to comprehensive patient work as well as cancer treatments are developing and new research and therapies are constantly advancing. Wiklund treats patients with recently diagnosed cancer and also patients with relapsed or spread cancer. He always thoroughly investigates patient’s medical history and discusses different treatment alternatives with the patient after which the most optimal treatment is started. Often additional investigations are needed, i.e. specialty imaging or gene tests of tumor tissue.

If a patient has been diagnosed with cancer, a comprehensive evaluation is done, and Wiklund discusses possible additional diagnostic needs with the patient and in case of a breast cancer patient, also consults a breast cancer surgent, if treatment should be started with surgery or chemotherapy. He discusses the treatment plan with the patient and takes into account individual wishes. At this phase Wiklund also deliberates, if gene test is needed to evaluate if any heritable gene mutations are found and could possibly affect the treatment. He also evaluates if further investigation of tissue samples should be executed to decide upon if chemotherapy could be left out. Wiklund cooperates with a multiprofessionel team i.e. when the patient needs radiotherapy.

Wiklund always strives to have an in-depth understanding of patients and to understand each person’s individual personality and situation. There are often several alternatives in cancer care. Through discussions with the patient, Wiklund always strives to find the best solutions for the patient.