Oncologist Job Description

The number of people that die of cancer every year is constantly on the rise. Containing this deadly disease is the need of the hour. An important profession that will help in doing so is that of an oncologist. They are the people to help detect, and cure cancerous growths on the body so the treatment against it can be started immediately. Read the oncologist job description that is given.

Even in oncology, there are various fields; these fields are divided into the part on which the cancerous growth has formed. For instance, if the growth is on female reproductive, they are treated by a gynecological oncologist. The oncologists treat cancer according to development in it. If the cancer is found in the initial stages, they treat it with chemotherapy, and if it is beyond that, surgery remains the only other option.

The oncologists detect cancer through various methods; one of those methods is biopsy. In a biopsy, they take a small part of the growth directly from the place where it is growing, and they test whether it is cancerous or not. If it is cancerous, they begin treatment immediately and if it is not cancerous, they call the patient for another biopsy after six months because then that growth has to be carefully monitored.

Oncologists have to decide upon the best line of treatment for the patient. There are different oncologists for different treatments. Radiation oncologists treat the cancer with the radiation, while surgical oncologists remove the cancer by operating on it. It is especially complicated in the case of surgery as there are some cancers that spread if they are operated upon. For such cases chemotherapy or radiation is used.

Cancer has become quite prevalent and many people are afflicted by it. Hence, there is a requirement for oncologists. Oncologists make good money, but the education they need for it is quite expensive. To know in detail about this profession, read the oncologist job description given below in bulleted points.

Duties and responsibilities of an oncologist

They have to test cancerous growth found on the body of the patients
They have to test and find out how developed the cancer is and then decide upon the line of treatment for the patient
They have to explain to the patient the situation and provide them some comfort
They have to talk to the patients family and explain to them the situation truthfully and tell them how they can cope with the treatment
In the case of surgeries, they have to tell the patient and their family of the risk that is involved
They have to coordinate with any other doctors that the patient may be seeing
They have to keep reports on the progress of the patient
Even after the body is cancer free, they have to keep a follow up on the patients as there are chances that the cancer can recur

Education required by oncologists

First a degree in medicine has to be obtained
They have to complete the residency required by doctors which is four years
After that they can apply for certification on oncology
They have to obtain a license to practice from the state

Career Advancement

If the oncologist is working in a hospital, they can move up in the management of the hospital. Many have their own private practices where they make good money.

The oncologist job description is to detect cancer as soon as possible and begin treatment before it gets worse.