Heme Onc vs Rad Onc?

[NaughtyGirl]

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Was wondering if anyone that has exposure to either specialty can shed some light into these two specialties. For those that want to do oncology.

What are the pros and cons of each field. It is so difficult to pick a specialty based on a limited rotation in a field. I would deeply appreciate any input into this topic by anyone.

Thank you very much.

 

[silverlining1]

Thanks for the insight, wagy27!

My limited understanding as a new MS3 is that radonc docs don't have a longitudinal role in a patient's care and thus don't develop relationships with the patients or their families, whereas a medical oncologist would be intimately involved in a patient's ups and downs. Is this a relatively correct assessment? If so, I would think that this would be a huge factor to consider. Some people don't like continuity of care, while others crave it.

 

[CptCrunch]

Thanks for the insight, wagy27!

My limited understanding as a new MS3 is that radonc docs don't have a longitudinal role in a patient's care and thus don't develop relationships with the patients or their families, whereas a medical oncologist would be intimately involved in a patient's ups and downs. Is this a relatively correct assessment? If so, I would think that this would be a huge factor to consider. Some people don't like continuity of care, while others crave it.

Nope. Rad oncs see patients in follow-up as do med oncs. There was a patient on my rad onc elective that was coming in for his 13 year follow-up.

 

[MJB]

Having been a patient of both, and shadowed with my RadOnc, I would pick RadOnc hands down...and it's not even close for all the reasons mentioned above.

You have to like physics, a lot...but to me RadOnc would beat the hell out of Heme/Onc.

For starters, you don't have to do the IM residency.

 

[silverlining1]

Awesome, thanks for the info (sorry for hijacking this thread!). We have a radonc elective available during 3rd year; I hadn't really considered it, but maybe I'll check it out.