Because different types of surgeons can remove cancerous growths, the path to becoming an oncology surgeon isn’t always clear. Some surgeons specialize in surgical oncology, but many general surgeons perform surgeries to remove tumors or growths as part of their regular practice. To make matters more complicated, oncology-related surgeries are sometimes performed by specialist surgeons who perform surgeries on specific parts of the body. This category could include neurosurgeons, gynecologists, and others. As a result, most surgeons will pursue some or all of surgical oncologists’ career options, but paths diverge as doctors become more specialized.
Most doctors who specialize in tumor removal and surgery complete a four-year undergraduate degree in pre-med or one of the sciences. This is not the case in the United Kingdom, where medical school and undergraduate work are taught concurrently. In countries such as Canada and the United States, a four-year degree is required before applying to medical school.
Three years of medical school and a fourth year of internship are required. People can become licensed physicians after completing the program, but if they want to specialize, they apply for residencies during their internship year. Those interested in becoming an oncologist, general surgeon, or other specialist surgeon must first complete a surgical residency. The residency is long and difficult, usually taking six to seven years to complete. Doctors may begin practicing medicine as general surgeons at this point. The doctor has not yet completed his training as an oncology surgeon, though he may perform a large number of tumor removal surgeries.
More training is required for those who wish to pursue a career as an oncology surgeon. A prospective surgical oncologist will need to enroll in a fellowship program and study and practice for another two to three years. To get into one of these programs, you’ll need a strong recommendation from a reputable surgical residency instructor, as well as evidence of research skills. These doctors are then trained to deal with the more complex and challenging cases of cancer surgical treatment after completing fellowships.
A surgical oncologist may consult with other specialists if a patient has a specific type of cancer. This may be especially true when dealing with cancers of the spine or brain that are extremely complex. It’s not uncommon for a surgical oncologist to delegate a case to a neurosurgeon, or to collaborate with a neurosurgeon on a difficult case.
Most other specialist surgeons encounter cases of cancer where tumor removal is required, just as the general surgeon does. In essence, virtually any specialist surgeon has become an oncology surgeon to some extent. Cardiothoracic, pediatric, plastic, gynecological, and other surgery subspecialties all deal with oncology on a limited basis and have roughly the same level of training as surgical oncologists. The main distinction is that a surgical oncologist focuses solely on the surgical removal of cancers, whereas general surgeons or surgeon specialists may treat conditions unrelated to cancer with surgery.