What are careers in oncology?

Medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, and radiation oncologists are oncology careers. Here are some details about these careers and others in oncology:

• Medical oncologists: Medical oncologists are often the first oncology professional that a patient sees when they are suspected to have cancer. They may have this suspicion themselves or have been referred to a medical oncologist by their general physician.

  Medical oncologists are responsible for coordinating all of a patient's cancer-related care. They may also work on a team that can include other professionals, such as pathologists and social workers.

  Medical oncologists diagnose and provide treatment plans for all forms of cancer while having a wide range of expertise in the cancer field. Medical oncologists see patients who find lumps, experience weight loss, or any number of other cancer symptoms. They order the proper tests for the patients and then diagnose them.

  Medical oncologists also specialize in a variety of medications and treatments for cancer, such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, and any other forms of treatment that will combat the specific kind of cancer a patient has.

  They also assist patients with pain management and the management of any side effects that come with particular cancer treatment. They stay in regular contact with their patients throughout treatment and afterward.

• Surgical oncologist: A surgical oncologist operates on cancer and attempts to remove it from a patient's body. This may come in the form of operating on cancer growths or masses that could be found anywhere in the human body. They only work on cancer that causes solid growth within tissues and do not operate when blood cancers are involved.

  They are extremely technical surgeons who offer a wide variety of services, such as biopsies, endoscopic surgeries, laparoscopic surgeries, and reconstructive surgeries.

  When a physician suspects that a patient has cancer due to a lump or mass in their body, they may refer the patient for consultation with a surgical oncologist. These cancer specialists can surgically remove a small biopsy of the cancer tissue and forward the sample for laboratory analysis to determine if the cells are cancerous or benign.

  If the testing reveals the tissue mass is cancer, the patient returns to the surgical oncologist to have the mass and a piece of the surrounding area removed. A surgical oncologist will assist a cancer patient in understanding the surgical procedure, the process that will happen regarding the surgery, and what the recovery will be like.

  Patients always have follow-up consultations with a surgical oncologist after their surgery and during the extended period after the surgery.

• Radiation oncologist: Radiation oncologists specialize in radiation therapy used to combat cancer. In some cases, radiation therapy can cure a cancer patient, while in others the goal is to reduce symptoms and extend their period of life.

  Radiotherapy or radiosurgery is a cancer treatment that uses potent and concisely targeted photon beams to attempt to destroy cancerous cells.

  Radiation oncologists typically work with a team of radiation specialists to properly prepare and administer radiation therapy. The radiation oncologist will be the chief medical professional who decides what type of radiation therapy to use on a patient, how much to use, and the length of time of the treatment.

  They are also tasked with requesting imaging and lab tests, developing possible treatment plans for patients, supervising or administering radiation treatments, patient follow-up exams, and evaluating a patient's response to a specific radiation treatment.

• Pediatric oncologist: A pediatric oncologist works with children and teenagers that have cancer. They diagnose and develop treatment plans for babies, infants, toddlers, children, teenagers, and sometimes young adults. Pediatric oncologists may specialize in a certain form of cancer or have broader cancer-related knowledge and expertise.

  They often work very closely with the families of their patients, helping them understand diagnoses, treatment options, side effects from medications, surgeries, and other procedures, and possible outcomes for the child after treatment is complete.

• Gynecologic oncologist: Gynecologic oncologists specialize in cancers related to female reproductive organs. They might also treat other non-cancer medical conditions, such as fibroid tumors or endometriosis. They often employ the treatment of chemotherapy, surgery, or radiotherapy for their cancer patients.

  Gynecologic oncologists are often also part of a woman's gynecological team if they have had gynecological cancer issues previously. They are in charge of determining the diagnosis and treatment plans for their patient's care, as well as any cancer management strategies.