About Oncology
Oncology is the branch of medicine that specializes in the study, diagnosis and treatment of cancerous tumors. Doctors trained in this specialty are known as oncologists and practice in a variety of settings, including large medical centers, hospitals, cancer treatment centers, medical research organizations and private practice. Although oncology itself is a medical specialty, there are various specialties within the field, most of which reflect the oncologist's specific area of concentration.
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Types of Oncology
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OncologyChannel, part of Healthcommunities.com, identifies some of the more popular areas of specialization as follows: gynecological oncology, medical oncology, medical oncology and hematology, pediatric oncology and hematology, radiation oncology and surgical oncology.
Focus of Subspecialties
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Gynecological oncology focuses on cancers of the female reproductive system, while medical oncology involves the treatment of cancer both medically and chemotherapeutically. Medical and pediatric oncologists with hematology training specialize in the treatment of malignancies of the blood and blood-creating tissues. Radiation and surgical oncologists are trained to treat cancers through radiation therapy and surgery, respectively.
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Educational Requirements
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Would-be oncologists must complete a very demanding educational program to be certified in their particular specialty. They must get their medical degree, which requires four years of regular college, followed by another four years of medical school. That is followed by periods of internship and residency that vary depending on the specific area of specialty, but generally run anywhere from three to eight years, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Certifying Bodies
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Founded in 1964, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) represents more than 27,000 practitioners of oncology. However, oncologists in the various areas of specialty are certified by the medical specialty boards that are responsible for their particular field of practice. According to OncologyChannel.com, these medical specialty certifying associations include the American Board of Internal Medicine, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Board of Pediatrics, American Board of Radiology and the American Board of Surgery.
Earnings and Job Outlook
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The earnings of oncologists vary sharply, depending on their specific area of specialization. While it supplies no specific earnings data for oncologists, the Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates that the median annual earnings of all physicians and surgeons with at least one year of specialization ranged from a low of $156,010 to a high of $321,686, as of 2005. Job opportunities for all physicians and surgeons are expected to show an increase of 14 percent from a total of 633,000 in 2006 to 723,000 by 2016.
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