Pathology vs. Radiation Oncology

[Pathoguru]

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3rd year medical student that can't decide between the two fields. What are the pros and cons of each? Thanks guys

 

[lipomas]

You're going to base your decision on internet forums? Have you not researched these fields enough? If you really want peoples' advice you should post what you like and dislike about each field to see if your conceptions are valid or not. For example, some people think they will not like pathology because they think they hate autopsies and are worried they will have to do them all the time.

 

[yaah]

You're going to get very little meaningful response by not doing much work yourself. As said above, you have to be more specific. "Pros and cons" is very vague and subjective.

 

[TMZ2007]

Not to mention that the (vast?) majority of us in the pathology forum will have very little to say about radiation oncology. 🙄

 

[Ziehl-Neelsen]

3rd year medical student that can't decide between the two fields. What are the pros and cons of each? Thanks guys

Are you serious?

Those 2 specialties are about as far apart as it gets in terms of the type of medicine they practice. I find it hard to believe that any medical student who has rotated through both hasn't figured out for himself which one he sees himself doing. And if you have decided which one you prefer you have your answer: apply for the field you most enjoy and work at becoming as competent as you can be.

If you truly have no preference and like both absolutely equally (which I have already said I don't believe is possible), likewise you have your answer: RadOnc is ridicuolously competetive because comparatively few are produced each year, every hospital needs one to treat the increasing number of cancer stricken, and they command extremely high salaries for essentially banker's hours with little call and no emergencies.

 

[redapple123]

so whats the point?

 

[Necromonger]

I rotated through both in med school. The pros for rad onc from what i could tell are lifestyle as the clinical side of the work was not terribly interesting. The treatment planning (radiation fields and whatnot) was cool as hell but managing things like butt burn from prostate irradiation remind me of assisting in butt puss operations in my surgery clerkships.

The pros for path is that it is a hell of a lot more interesting, pays well if you can find the right gig, and gives you the opportunity to specialize in almost anything you want.