Radiation Oncologist - How to become a Radiation Oncologist

Radiation Oncologist is a specialist doctors who is responsible to take care of those cancer patients who are undergoing radiation treatment. They develop and prescribe each cancer patient's treatment plan. These professionals make it sure that every treatment is given accurately. They monitor the patient's progress and adjust their treatment to make sure that the cancer patients get quality care throughout their treatment process.

Radiation Oncologist also help identify and treat any kind of side effects of radiation therapy on the human being. They have extensive training in the safe use of radiation to treat the disease as a little carelessness on the part of Radiation Oncologist can prove fatal for the patient. He/She may have to work for 24 hours in emergency condition. Although it a tough ask but the professionals engaged in this field does not feel so, as their work gives them the mental satisfaction when the patience they have taken care of stands on their feet and go back to their family blessing them for their recovery. To do this work tirelessly with all the care and devotion a Radiation Oncologists should have patience, a calm temperament, an objective approach towards the patients, the ability to infuse confidence in patients so that treatment could work speedily, tolerance, a strong willpower, strength of mind and purpose are essential for people aspiring to make a career in the field. Other skills required are a strong scientific and technical bent of mind, the ability to learn new skills and adapt to the changes, communication skills and a spirit for teamwork, good powers of observation, accurate judgment and self-confidence 

To discharge their duties with utmost perfection the prospective Radiation oncologist required highest level of professional knowledge about the filed and condition they are going to work in the coming time. For that the need proper education and training in their respective field which can only be achieved by doing professionally designed diploma/degree courses. So to be in this profession one has to undergo one or more of the ahead given courses. 

To become Radiation Oncologist one has to undergo one or more of the following Courses

1. B.Sc in Applied Physics or any Equivalent Degree.
2. MBBS

Eligibility

1. Educational Qualification

To be eligible to join B. Sc in Applied Physics - a Bachelor degree in  applied Sciences - or MBBS- a professional degree in Medicine and Surgery- one should be 10+2 with Biology, Physics and Chemistry as main subjects with 50% marks from some highly rated collages providing this course.

How to become a Radiation Oncologist?

Aspiring candidates have to follow below given steps to become a Radiation Oncologist.

Step 1

Students Interested  in this field has to appear in an entrance tests conducted by the various state and Independent medical educational bodies to admit candidates in various teaching institutions attached with it according to the rank of the candidate in the entrance exam.

These exams are usually held in the month of May - June and consists of Objective type questions based on the subject of relevant subjects the results of these exams are generally out by June/July

However some colleges also give admission on the basis of % of marks obtained in the qualifying class.

Step 2

After completing this 3 years B.Sc. Applied Physics course - in which one has to go through all the major aspects of the field of study- or 4 years MBBS course the aspirants has to join various PG Advanced Diplomas/Degree Course for specialization in the field  Oncology. 

Step 3

After getting the required basic qualification interested candidate to join the profession as Radiation Oncologist have to undergo post graduation in oncology i.e

MD (Oncology) or MD (Radiotherapy) followed by DM (Medical Oncology) etc.

Eligibility

1. Educational Qualification

One should be either B.Sc. Applied physics or MBBS or equivalent in the related field to join any of the above specialization PG degrees provided by many institute of repute in India and abroad.

Radiation Oncologist Career Prospects

A well qualified Radiation oncologist can find a challenging career in public and private sector hospital- both as a doctor directly associated with the treatment of the cancer patients or as a researcher-, diagnostic centers and blood donation centers. These days with the growth in the private sector there are so many private cancer hospitals,  thus  the demand for Radiation Oncologist is on the up-swing  as radiation and chemotherapy are the only means of treatment  for the cancer so far and Cancer in itself  is not one single disease  but there are more than 300 different kinds of cancer, and progress against one type of cancers does not necessarily mean progress against other, it is sure that there will still be plenty of opportunity in this field for young and efficient professionals interested to plunge in this area of medicine.

Radiation Ocnologist Salary

Being associated with the treatment of such a deadly disease Radiation Oncologist get reasonably good salary in government and private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers etc. The average starting salary of a Radiation Oncologist ranges between Rs.40,000 to Rs.50,000 per month in big cancer hospitals and clinics. Those working in private hospitals or corporate sector as research scholors have much more income than those of government employees.

Those who are doing private practice are earning handsome returns depending upon their skill, knowledge, experience and popularity in the surrounding areas.

Some other professional that works with a Radiation Oncologist as a team for the treatment of the cancer patients are:

• Medical Radiation Physicist
• Radiation Therapist
• Dosimetrist
• Radiation Oncology Nurse
• Social Worker
• Dietician

Names of some of the National and International bodies associated with this field of Oncology

• Association for Radiation Oncology in India. 
• Indian society of Oncology.
• International Union against cancer
• Indian Association of Radiology and Imaging