Oncology is, quite simply, the branch of medicine that studies tumors (cancer) and their development and treatment. There are two main branches of oncology: radiation oncology (radiotherapy) and medical oncology (commonly referred to as just oncology). These two forms of oncology each have their pros and cons and your oncologist’s choice for you will be based on which variety he feels is right for you.

Medical oncology is usually associated with chemotherapy which is a broader form of treatment. This means that for some varieties of cancer it is ideal because it uses a broad-spectrum approach that can target a wider area. However, its side effects are well-known and very undesirable which may cause many people to avoid chemotherapy if at all possible.

On the other hand, a radiation oncologist uses intense beams of radiation to target very specific areas and kill the cancerous cells, while keeping the surrounding area relatively unaffected. Radiation oncology may not be the right treatment for some, because of its narrow targeting, but the side effects, although they certainly exist, are often not as violent.

Only your doctor can help you choose the right brand of oncology for your needs, but it is great to know in our modern world that we have options.

Radiation oncology is a very powerful and effective treatment for cancerous tumors, however, like any extreme forms of treatment, there are side effects that can occur. Your radiation oncologist can help you better understand these side effects, but keep in mind that radiation oncology is, simply, the use of radiation to treat cancer, and radiation can cause serious sickness and bring about acute and long-term side effects.

General fatigue is the most common acute side effect of radiation oncology, as exposing your body to radiation can take a lot out of you. Additional acute side effects are: swelling (edema), infertility, and damage to the epithelial surfaces (skin). These side effects can usually be treated, and can go away with time.

Several long term side effects have been seen as well. Hair loss and damage to the salivary glands have been known to occur as well as fibrosis and even cancer. Radiation has been known as a cause and a treatment for cancer for years, but secondary malignancies as a result of radiotherapy are very rare.

Despite the potential side effects, radiation oncology is a very effective cancer treatment, and its benefits can greatly outweigh its potential side effects. Your radiation oncologist can help you decide if radiotherapy is the right path for you.

For most people, choosing a doctor is not really something that happens. We go to the hospital, or clinic, a doctor sees us, sends us to another doctor who sends us to another doctor. We never question who were being sent to or if there are any other options.

But when it comes to something as important as cancer treatment, you are quite literally, in most cases, putting your life into the hands of the doctor you choose for treatment. When being treated for cancer, experience makes all the difference. If you are going to be treated using radiation therapy, your radiation oncologist is the expert that can literally save your life.

(more…)

As long as we have a free-market health care system in the United States, there will be a significant desire for some of our most intelligent young people to pursue careers as doctors. Radiation oncology is one of the fields of medicine that is growing in popularity, but it is not a career that is easily acquired.

A radiation oncologist must have the intellectual ability, first and foremost, to successfully complete a basic undergraduate degree, medical school programs, and additional post-med school specialized training. Most radiation oncologists start with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, though Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees are sometimes accepted.

After their Bachelor’s degree, they will enroll in medical school for four years, followed by a residency graduate education for four years. During this residency period, the students will specialize in radiation oncology and clinical oncology.

In all, radiation oncologists will have to spend 12-20 years pursuing formal education. In fact, because of the extensive use of technology involved in radiation oncology, it has been said that a radiation oncologist must prepare for a lifetime of training.