Doctors that treat cancers are called Oncologists. Oncologists can be of many types and usually there is involvement of all of them to treat a particular type of cancer. Training to be an Oncologist takes a long period of time particularly for Medical, Clinical and Surgical Oncologists. In some specialties and for certain types of cancers, treatments for cancer are offered by doctors who are not Oncologists. This is mainly in surgery. Examples include Neurosurgery, Urological surgery, Liver surgery, Thoracic surgery etc.

Medical Oncologist

A Medical Oncologist is one who treats cancer patients with systemic treatment. Systemic treatments can be chemotherapy, hormone therapy, biological therapies and Immunotherapy.

These medications can be given in the form of injections, drips or tablets depending on the drug that is given.

Medical Oncologist trained in India

Years to train in India:	6 years after MBBS
Degrees gained after MBBS:	MD in General Medicine DM or DNB in Medical Oncology

Medical Oncologist trained in UK

Years to train in UK:	7 years minimum after MBBS
Degrees gained after MBBS:	MRCP(UK) in General Medicine MRCP in Medical Oncology CCT(UK)

Medical Oncologist trained in USA

Years to train in USA:	6 years after MBBS
Degrees gained after MBBS:	MD in Internal Medicine Medicine Fellowship in Medical Oncology and Haematology

Medical Oncologist trained in Canada

Years to train in USA:	5 years after MBBS
Degrees gained after MBBS:	MD in Medical Oncology

Clinical Oncologist

A Clinical Oncologist is one who treats cancer patients with both Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy. They treat solid tumours (all cancers except blood cancers) with chemotherapy and all radiotherapy.

Clinical Oncologists are trained in UK and Hong Kong.

Clinical Oncology training in UK

Years to train in UK:	8 years after MBBS
Degrees gained after MBBS:	MRCP(UK) in General Medicine FRCR in Clinical Oncology CCT (UK)

Radiation Oncologist

A radiation Oncologist is one who treats cancers with Radiotherapy or Radiation therapy.

Radiation Oncology training in India

Years to train after MBBS:	2-3 years after MBBS, two years for diploma in Radiotherapy or three years for MD or DMB radiotherapy
Degrees gained after MBBS: DMRT in Radiotherapy	MD in Radiotherapy DNB in Radiotherapy

Radiation Oncology training in UK

Training as Radiation Oncologist in UK is as a Clinical Oncologist. See above for details

Radiation Oncology training in USA

Years to train after MBBS:	3 years after MBBS
Degrees gained after MBBS:	MD Radiation Oncology

Radiation Oncology training in Australia

Years to train after MBBS:	7 Years after MBBS
Degrees gained after MBBS:	FRANZCR IN Radiation Oncology

Radiation Oncology training in Canada

Years to train after MBBS:	5 Years
Degrees gained after MBBS:	MD in Radiation Oncology FRCPC in Radiation Oncology

Surgical Oncology

Surgical Oncologist is a doctor who specialises in surgical treatment of cancer. Surgical Oncology training is different in different countries and is given below.

Surgical Oncology training in India

Years to train after MBBS:	6 years after MBBS
Degrees gained after MBBS:	MS or DNB in General Surgery, then MCh in Surgical Oncology DNB in Surgical Oncology

Other sub specialist surgeons also practice surgical oncology in their own specialties and these are given below.

MCh or DNB in Surgical Gastroenterology- operate on cancers of the gastrointestinal tract

MCh or DNB in Urology-operate on cancers of the urological system

MCh or DNB in Thoracic surgery-operate on cancers of the chest

MCh or DNB in Neurosurgery- operate on brain tumours

MCh or DNB in Head and Neck Oncology

MCh or DNB in Gynae-Oncology

Clinical Haematologist

Clinical Haematologists are specialists who look after patients with blood disorders. They look after patients with cancers related to the blood such as Lymphomas, Leukaemias, Myelomas and others.

Clinical Haematology training in India

Years to train after MBBS:	5 years after MBBS
Degrees gained after MBBS:	MD General medicine DM or DNB Clinical Haematology

Clinical Haematology training in the UK

Years to train after MBBS:	8
Degrees gained after MBBS	MRCP General Medicine FRCPath CCT

Haemato-Oncology training in USA

Same as medical oncology as above

Other doctors who play a vital role in looking after cancer patients include

Pathologists- who report on biopsies

Radiologists- who report on x-rays and scans

Nuclear Medicine doctors- who report on PET scans and other scans and administer radionuclide treatments

Doctors of all other specialties- help in diagnosis and management of complications of treatment