Who is an Oncologist?

An Oncologist is a doctor who specialises in treatment of cancer.

What are the types of Oncologists that are present?

An Oncologist can be of many types

Medical Oncologist

A Medical Oncologist is one who treats cancer patients with systemic treatment. Systemic treatments can be chemotherapy and biological therapies including 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 in Medical Oncology 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) FRCR in Clinical Oncology (solid tumours mainly)

Medical Oncologist trained in USA

Years to train in USA:	6 years after MBBS
Degrees gained after MBBS:	MD in Internal 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

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 Oncologist

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 in Gynaecological Oncology- operate on gynaecological cancers
• MCh in Head and Neck oncology-operate on head and neck cancers
• 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

Others

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