Oncologist Job Description
What’s Oncology?
To first understand what an oncologist does, it is important to understand what the field of oncology is all about. Oncology is a branch of medicine that studies cancer and cancer-related activities such as therapy and radiation. An oncologist, therefore, is a person who studies cancer in patients and observes potentially cancerous tumors. Oncologists often specialize in observing certain types of cancer, such as gynecology or pediatric oncology.
Oncologists perform many duties in order to take care of their patients and keep them aware of their condition and on-going health. Patients are referred to specialized oncologists by their general doctors according to the type of potential cancer cells are found. For example, a baby would be referred to a pediatric oncologist if his doctor were to find any unusual growths during a check-up.
Job Description
Their duties include diagnosing and narrowing down the type of cancer the patient has, in addition to tracking the stage of the cancer. Oncologists take biopsies of growths, examine x-rays, and take tissue samples from patients in order to determine these factors. They also must attend workshops and training sessions in order to stay abreast of the most current treatment options in order to present these to their patients and the patients’ families when discussing treatment.
Education Requirements
In order to become an oncologist, one must obtain a bachelor’s degree in medicine or another diagnostic discipline, with a specialization in oncology. After getting the bachelor’s degree, they are required to further their education and go to medical school. Medical school leads to an internship (residency) at a local facility, and the medical student chooses to specialize in oncology during this point. Having a license to practice medicine is also required to have, and must be completed after completing the residency. Oncology is a very specialized branch of medicine; therefore, having a master’s degree is required. The education process takes several years, but it well-worth it for this rewarding career.
Necessary Skills
There are several basic skills that these specialized doctors need to have before considering going into this field. They need to have excellent bedside manner when dealing with patients. Going through cancer is a very difficult time for patients and their family members, so having a doctor who has empathy, listens, and is understanding is very important. These doctors work extensive hours and need to be available at a moment’s notice; their patients could have an emergency that needs to be dealt with immediately. Oncologists should be patient and have a passion for what they do. Especially when working in a stressful environment, it is important to have a reason to go into work besides just receiving the paycheck. Most oncologists find this career path to be rewarding mentally as well as financially.