Med onc vs Rad onc

[jd989898]

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I've decided I'm interested in being a cancer doctor, but have no interest in surgery, leaving me with rad onc or med onc. Out of these two specialties, which would make it easier to go into academia with protected research time? I'm interested in cancer treatment/prevention research in general, not particularly chemotherapy or radiation therapy. I do find immunotherapy very interesting, which would be more along the lines of med onc, but I've heard rad onc is more relaxed clinically which leaves more time/energy for research. The truth is, no one really knows where cancer research will be in another decade or two, so I can't really plan to match my research exactly with my clinical work. Radiation therapy also fascinates me, though, as I'm interested in engineering/physics. Has anyone else ever been torn between these two specialties? How did you choose?

 

[eteshoe]

You should present your question on the respective onc threads.

 

[mcworbust]

I'm interested in cancer treatment/prevention research in general, not particularly chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy also fascinates me, though,

Lol first I'd try and figure this out...

 

[BurghStudent]

Immunotherapy is the future. Check out the anti-PD1, anti-CTLA4 clinical trials.

Rad onc and heme onc will have a role in this. Radiation makes cancer more antigenic, complementing immune-based therapies.

 

[jd989898]

Immunotherapy is the future. Check out the anti-PD1, anti-CTLA4 clinical trials.

Rad onc and heme onc will have a role in this. Radiation makes cancer more antigenic, complementing immune-based therapies.

Yeah it really does seem promising. It would be awesome to do IM or rad onc at MDACC and work with James Allison.