Question by Claire: So I would Like To Be a Pediatric Oncologist…?? :)?
I am 13 years old and I really want to become an Oncologist when I grow up! I know a lot of people who’ve had cancer, so I looked up different cancers and I am VERY interested in oncology. Specifically, Pediatric Oncology (Child Cancer Doctor).

I am being homeschooled (through K12) and I’m taking HS Latin and HS Advanced Earth Science. I am going into 8th grade, and already getting HS Credit. I Was wondering what other classes I should take to help work towards oncology.

Also, to be a pediatric oncologist, what degrees and such do I need to get? My mom said it will take about 8-10 years!! Whoa…
What are good schools to get the medical degrees and such?? I am in MI and I am willing to go to out of state if I absolutely have to. Any suggestions??

Also, what do Pediatric Oncologist do on a daily basis? I know it’s a sad job, sometimes, but I would really like to put my efforts into child care.

Thanks everyone! I am really excited to start learning towards my future goal and I want to start researching soon :) I know I have time, but I want to be prepared!!

Best answer:

Answer by matador 89
Claire,
It would be normal, to undergo training in Pediatric Oncology, for the student to be a qualified physician (doctor) and have completed three years of general pediatric training at an ACGME accredited institution. You would be advised to contact your local teaching hospital and ask for details of educational requirements for acceptance to medical training. They will advise you and you may then prepare your educational programme with your K2 school curriculum and the assistance of your K2 teaching staff. Pediatric Oncology is a specialty discipline in medicine concerned with diagnosing and treating children, usually up to the age of 18, with cancer. It is thought to be one of the most challenging of specialties because, despite successful treatment of many children, there is a high mortality rate still associated with various types of cancers. As you are learning Latin, I will close by writing – Volo vos puteus!

Hope this helps
matador 89

Answer by TrueSnapdragon
To become a pediatric oncologist, you will need quite a bit of schooling. Your mom is right. You’ll need your undergrad (you can major in any number of things, from pre-med to almost anything else.) That’s four years. Then you’ve got four years of medical school, followed by three years of residency in pediatrics. During this time, you’ll be working as a doctor, but still learning, getting the hands on experience. You’ll rotate through different areas of pediatrics, including oncology. After that, you’ll need to do a fellowship in pediatric oncology (more hands on experience.) Then you’ll be able to work as a pediatric oncologist.

Right now, you should be focusing on getting good grades and keeping a high GPA. The courses you take now won’t really impact you later, though a strong life sciences background is good (bio, anatomy, etc.)

As far as what pediatric oncologists do on a daily basis… they diagnose and treat childhood cancer. Almost all pediatric oncologists are also pediatric hematologists and also diagnose and treat blood disorders in children. These specialties almost always go together.

A ped onc will work in a hospital setting, both in an inpatient area (where kids stay overnight) and the outpatient ped hem/onc clinic. This is where kids come for just the day. They might come for an hour appointment to have a check up or blood work, or they might come for six hours in one day for tests, chemo, or transfusions.

In my hospital, the ped hem/oncs rotate. One covers clinic, one covers inpatient, one covers on-call, etc. for a week, and then they switch. In clinic, the hem/onc will see the kids who come in and give them physical exams, write chemo orders, order tests, etc. The hem/oncs do all the bone marrow aspirations and lumbar punctures in clinic, and then order other tests. They meet with parents, talk to kids, explain things, etc. They chart, write letters to pediatricians and other specialists to update progress, deal with insurance companies, have very difficult conversations with parents and even children, celebrate the good things (the little things like losing a tooth or the big things like finishing treatment) and cry over the bad. They meet with other physicians, participate in studies and research, and so much more. On the inpatient unit, they see all the kids each day (several times a day), reassure parents, explain diagnoses and treatment, write orders for tests and medications, teach residents, and more.

Sometimes it’s a sad job, and sometimes it’s not. MOST children with cancer survive. Not all do. There are hard days, and a child dying is absolutely horrific. There are no words that can adequately describe that. But even amidst that, there are so many kids who get better. Nobody in this field ever forgets the kids who don’t get better, but it’s helpful to also remember all the kids who do. Life in a pediatric hematology/oncology center is not all tears and sadness. There’s a lot of laughter, a lot of jokes, a lot of play.

It’s not a field for everyone, and some people do burn out quickly. But for some people, it’s the right fit.

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