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ONCOLOGY

UCSF Fresno

Office of Health Career Pathways

Health Professions Workshop

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Oncology Defined

  • Oncology is the branch of medicine that researches, identifies and treats cancer. It is a subspeciality under Internal medicine
  • A physician who works in the field of oncology = Oncologist.
  • Oncologists usually lead a Cancer Treatment Team composed of several different healthcare professionals who work together to provide comprehensive treatment for cancer patients. The team may include oncologists from different areas (medical, surgical or radiation), a pathologist, a diagnostic radiologist, an oncology nurse, or a tumor board (team made up if various specialties for difficult cases)
  • Oncology is often linked with hematology, which is the branch of medicine that deals with blood and blood-related disorders.

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Types of Oncologists

THE FIELD OF ONCOLOGY HAS THREE MAJOR AREAS: MEDICAL, SURGICAL, AND RADIATION

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MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST: treats cancer using chemotherapy or other medications, such as targeted therapy or immunotherapy.

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SURGICAL ONCOLOGIST: removes the tumor and nearby tissue during surgery. They also perform certain types of biopsies to help diagnose cancer.

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RADIATION ONCOLOGIST: treats cancer using radiation therapy

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Types of Oncologists

OTHER AREAS INCLUDE:

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GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGIST: treats gynecologic cancers, such as uterine, ovarian, and cervical cancers.

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PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGIST: treats cancer in children. Some types of cancer occur most often in children and teenagers which include certain brain tumors, leukemia, osteosarcoma, and Ewing’s sarcoma. Types of cancer more common in children sometimes also occur in adults. In these situations, an adult may decide to work with a pediatric oncologist.

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HEMATOLOGIST ONCOLOGIST: diagnoses and treats blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.

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The Role of the Oncologist

An oncologist manages a patient’s care throughout the course of the disease. This starts with the diagnosis. The Physician's role includes:

  • Explaining the cancer diagnosis and stage
  • Talking about all treatment options and sharing their preferred choice
  • Delivering quality and compassionate care
  • Helping a patient manage the symptoms and side effects of cancer and cancer treatment.
  • Additional duties include keeping records of patients' test results and physical examinations, writing prescriptions, providing specific cancer information to patients, monitoring treatment plans and improving patients' quality of life.

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Various Treatments Used in Oncology

Surgery

Procedure used to remove cancer from the body

Radiation Therapy

Uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors

Chemotherapy

Uses drugs to kill cancer cells

Immunotherapy

Biological therapy that helps your immune system fight the cancer

Targeted Therapy

Targets the changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide, and spread

Hormone Therapy

Slows or stops the growth of breast and prostate cancers that use hormones to grow

Stem Cell Transplant

Restores blood-forming stem cells in patients who have had their destroyed by chemo or radiation

Precision Medicine

Select treatments that help patients based on genetic understanding of their disease

Palliative Care

Pain management and treats other symptoms of cancer

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Education Required to become an Oncologist

Undergraduate Degree and M.D. Degree

Internal medicine residency

An Oncology Fellowship

Note: residency & fellowship can range anywhere from 3-8 years depending on the specialty

State Licensure

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Salary ranges can vary depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years spent in your profession

Salary Ranges

In Fresno -

The average salary is $331K with a range that typically

falls between

$266K (25%) and $422K (75%)

In California -

The average physician hematology/oncology salary is $365K, but the range typically falls between $283K and $465K

As of January 2022

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Radiation Oncology Patient Education Video (5:58) At UT Southwestern: radiation is delivered by an expert team of doctors, medical physicists, and nurses to treat cancer and other conditions - https://youtu.be/oGWKDjE-DPU

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References

  • https://www.healio.com/news/hematology-oncology/20120331/what-is-oncology
  • https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/cancer-basics/cancer-care-team/types-oncologists
  • https://study.com/articles/Medical_Oncologist_Job_Description_Salary_and_Career_Outlook.html
  • https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/oncologist-salary/fresno-ca

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Medical and Support Careers in Oncology

Medical Roles:

  1. Medical Oncologist
  2. Radiation Oncologist
  3. Surgical Oncologist
  4. Pediatric Oncologist
  5. Hematologist-Oncologist
  6. Oncology Nurse
  7. Oncology Nurse Practitioner
  8. Radiation Therapist
  9. Oncology Pharmacist
  10. Pathologist
  11. Radiologist

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Support Roles:

  1. Oncology Social Worker
  2. Patient Navigator
  3. Clinical Research Coordinator
  4. Dietitian/Nutritionist
  5. Genetic Counselor
  6. Palliative Care Specialist
  7. Psychologist
  8. Physical Therapist
  9. Occupational Therapist
  10. Chaplain/Spiritual Care Provider