Why would anyone want to go into Oncology today

[allendo]

I'm interested in Oncology and was wondering if anyone had any opinions, advice so on.... Know anyone in Onc fellow right now!! Avg workweek, is it depressing or encouraging? Are people still interested in the specialty?

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[andreg]

I'm interested in Oncology
GOOD FOR YA..
Avg workweek
60 HOURS
is it depressing
EXTREMELY, 75% DIE IN YOUR HANDS
encouraging?
BUT OF COURSE,
YOU MAKE $300,000 MIN,
BUY A NICE RED FERRARI or Porsche..
IF THAT IS NOT ENCOURAGING, WHAT IS??
Are people still interested in the specialty?
BUT OF COURSE,
JUST LOOK AT THE $$$$$,
HENCE IT IS THE #3 COMPETITIVE ))

 

[v-tach]

I have a lot of respect for those who can do oncology--I think it takes a special type of person to deal compassionately with cancer patients without getting so emotionally involved they get depressed due to the high death rate of their patients. It seems to me like it could get very discouraging at times dealing with cancer because it is so often not successfully treatable. I'm not sure I could handle it unless I were also involved in research to find more effective treatments with (hopefully) less severe side effects.

 

[shala]

Plus you can do some very good research in oncology field. A lot of funding and money go into oncology. In the sense of dying patients, you know that they are dying because of cancer....

 

[novacek88]

I'm interested in Oncology
GOOD FOR YA..
Avg workweek
60 HOURS
is it depressing
EXTREMELY, 75% DIE IN YOUR HANDS
encouraging?
BUT OF COURSE,
YOU MAKE $300,000 MIN,
BUY A NICE RED FERRARI or Porsche..
IF THAT IS NOT ENCOURAGING, WHAT IS??
Are people still interested in the specialty?
BUT OF COURSE,
JUST LOOK AT THE $$$$$,
HENCE IT IS THE #3 COMPETITIVE ))

I can't deny anything you have said. Heme-Onc is probably the third highest paying IM subspecialty behind Cards and GI. After 3 years of practice, you are pretty much guaranteed to earn 250K at the minimum and most likely 300-400. But it is not an easy job at all.

 

[heldicus]

How do the different types of oncology compare in terms of salary? ie, medical, surgical, radiation, etc., just to name a few. Do all of these start with internal medicine residencies?

 

[bbas]

I'm not sure about the salary part, but only medical oncology starts with an internal medicine residency. Surgical oncology requires a general surgery residency, and radiation oncology has its own 3-4 year residency program.

 

[Adawaal]

I'm not sure about the salary part, but only medical oncology starts with an internal medicine residency. Surgical oncology requires a general surgery residency, and radiation oncology has its own 3-4 year residency program.

Actually, Rad Onc is five years (prelim/TY plus four). I'm not sure about the surgeons, but one of the Oncology "throwaway" newsletters I just got last week included a great geographic survey of med and rad onc doc's salaries by region. Average was highest in the Midwest where I live (so I don't recall how the other three regions worked out) with both specialties averaging in the mid-$400s.

 

[Fantasy Sports]

I have to wonder though, are a greater percentage of patients treated for cancer dying than say, in CHF or stroke or resipratory collapse? With the exception of lung cancer, cancer might be the one disease that completely lacks a stigma associated with it (maybe cervical cancer due to HPV might be another, but that's a whole different story). I wonder if that aspect of it makes each death more poignant perhaps?

But if you want to see some saints, check out the pediatric heme/oncs at your local children's hospital. Those guys need to get Purple Hearts.

 

[Pili]

I have to wonder though, are a greater percentage of patients treated for cancer dying than say, in CHF or stroke or resipratory collapse? With the exception of lung cancer, cancer might be the one disease that completely lacks a stigma associated with it (maybe cervical cancer due to HPV might be another, but that's a whole different story). I wonder if that aspect of it makes each death more poignant perhaps?

But if you want to see some saints, check out the pediatric heme/oncs at your local children's hospital. Those guys need to get Purple Hearts.

OTOH, Pediatric Onc is very rewarding in that many more children than adults achieve a cure...Granted, those that do die are heart breaking in a way that is difficult to absorb...

 

[fumd]

How do the different types of oncology compare in terms of salary? ie, medical, surgical, radiation, etc., just to name a few. Do all of these start with internal medicine residencies?

First off, if you want to see some good salary comparisons for the fields in question, the last issue of the Hem-Onc Newswire has a good article for that. Basically, medical oncologists can probably do the best, ranging anywhere from the low $200's to upwards of $800k. Of course, that's geographically speaking - more $$$ in the midwest, and best in the south when also figuring in reimbursement rates. Rad onc is excellent also. However, the standard deviation for med onc is far greater than rad onc, so you're liable to generally start higher and maybe top out lower in rad onc, but there's less variation in that field. Surg onc kinda blows for what you do. 5 years general surgery, 2 years surg onc, and you average about $270k b/c you can do a lot of lengthy surgeries and not get reimbursed that much.

Finally, of course, if you do academic medicine, you won't make squat - probably in the $120-160k range or so. Granted, it's all relative, so if you think that's a good salary, I guess it's not so bad.

Hope that helps.

 

[heldicus]

First off, if you want to see some good salary comparisons for the fields in question, the last issue of the Hem-Onc Newswire has a good article for that. Basically, medical oncologists can probably do the best, ranging anywhere from the low $200's to upwards of $800k. Of course, that's geographically speaking - more $$$ in the midwest, and best in the south when also figuring in reimbursement rates. Rad onc is excellent also. However, the standard deviation for med onc is far greater than rad onc, so you're liable to generally start higher and maybe top out lower in rad onc, but there's less variation in that field. Surg onc kinda blows for what you do. 5 years general surgery, 2 years surg onc, and you average about $270k b/c you can do a lot of lengthy surgeries and not get reimbursed that much.

Finally, of course, if you do academic medicine, you won't make squat - probably in the $120-160k range or so. Granted, it's all relative, so if you think that's a good salary, I guess it's not so bad.

Hope that helps.

That does help, thank you. So is it fair to assume that because the med onc guys make the most, that's the most difficult one to get into?

I was talking to someone the other day who told me that rad-onc is a really tough match, with only around 100 spots in the country. If med onc is an even more competitive specialty, that doesn't bode well for your average student (read: this average student).

 

[uxbridge]

Rad Onc is really tough. If you read the Rad Onc threads, there's only a 30% filling rate.

But anyways, income is a rather unpredictable subject. Quote from Int. Med FAQ:

"I point to that story because many medical students choose their specialties based on salaries, when in fact, by the time that they complete their training, the salary of their chosen speciality today may be drastically different then the salary of the specialist of the future. An example of a specialty in flux today in hematology oncology, with the decision of the government to stop reimbursing oncologists as much as they have been for chemotherapeutic agents that by some estimates have been accounting for one half to two thirds of many oncologists salaries. I am certain that this will have the effect of dissuading many people from pursuing oncology, but I would just remind those people of what happened to gastroenterology and just state that it simply is not possible to predict the future. "

Bottomline: Chose the field you wish to pursue due to your interest, your passion. All fields generate more than enough income to guarantee a comfortable lifestyle for you and your extended family!

 

[pikachu]

Med onc is far less difficult to get into than rad onc, and I think it's easier to get than other IM fellowships such as cards and GI. (Many fellowship positions are still wide open to IMG's for example.) Reimbursements are in flux due to the recent medicare changes - however, I think the oncologists may be fighting this. You will certainly have no shortage of cancer patients as the population ages though so I wouldn't worry about salary too much.

 

[abu barney]

Medical Oncology is a fantastic specialty for those who have a passion for it. You work with the nicest, most compliant, most grateful patients who happen to have a very bad disease. The science aspect is very interesting and increasingly dynamic. Salary is good, hours are similar to those in other IM subspecialties like GI and cards. People make a big deal about the emotional aspect, but seem to forget that cardiology patients die too (I mean so does everyone else, eventually).

Also there will be an even larger demand for oncologists as cancer is now the number one killer in the US and the number of cases will continue to increase as cardiac-related deaths are decreasing and the baby boomer surge is approaching.

And it happens to be less competitive than GI and cards, though certainly not a walk in the park. (Med onc is much, much less competitive than rad onc, but med onc will evenually put them out of business anyhow )