Most simply defined, Oncology is the study of Cancer. The awareness of cancer, its prevention, and treatment, has taken leaps and is today developing at a rapid pace. Such ongoing study of cancer has made the incurable ailment, controllable to a great extent, especially at its initial stage. Sufferers of this dreaded disease today have a chance, that was almost non-existent till very late.
This branch of medicine deals with cancer or tumor, and such patients. It begins with the diagnosis of any form of cancer in an individual, to determine the stage at which the patient is. Then starts the treatment or therapy. It does not end here and continues with regular follow-up sessions, post-therapy rehabilitation, etc to restore the cured person to normal life. In cases of terminal illness, oncologists administer palliative care to such patients. Oncology also involves the constant tussle with ethical issues surrounding cancer, the research, the awareness drives. Determining hereditary factors, and the screening of close relatives of a cancer patient is also part of oncology studies.
Subspecialties of oncology are – surgical oncology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology.
Cancer is caused when the body cells start multiplying abnormally within the human body. The work profile of an Oncologist includes the treatment of cancer by the use of various methods and systematic therapy, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, bone marrow transplantation, etc.
To be an Oncologist, the process has to be initiated at the school level. You should take up science, with physics, chemistry and biology combination. Ten after, go for an MBBS degree from a reputed medical college. You can then specialize in oncology, from India or abroad. Some good institutes that offer this program are the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, All India Institute of Medical Sciences – Delhi, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Center in Delhi, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru, and Gujrat Cancer and Research Institute in Ahmadabad.
The profession of a doctor is highly self satisfactory, and that of an Oncologist is even more as you can give a new lease to life to someone who is suffering from a grave ailment. Patients and kin have immense faith and trust in you, and you are responsible for treating an illness that may have no scope of recovery. But it is the determination and dedication of an oncologist that sees him through.
