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The Oncologist of the Future

Throughout its relatively short modern history, oncology has experienced a number of revolutions. Surgery has always been, and remains, the backbone of curative therapy for cancer treatment, with non-surgical options such as radiotherapy and systemic therapy being relative newcomers by comparison. Nonetheless, surgical practice has evolved substantially, from highly morbid radical techniques, such as the Halsted mastectomy, to minimally invasive approaches, with the recent introduction of robotics promising further gains in this area [5,6]. Organ and functional preservation is now at the forefront of surgical innovation, in many cases affording patients life-saving procedures with minimised…

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Articles of Interest

A new generation of cancer survivors is getting diagnosed early, and living longer

People are getting cancer earlier and living longer, meaning they're having to figure out how to navigate various aspects of life after diagnosis.

A Shortage of Oncologists

In the crucible of cancer treatment, the bonding of patients with physicians often makes the unendurable endurable. The difficulty of finding and then keeping the right oncologist can therefore be fraught. Yet this problem, not uncommon today, is on track to grow worse.

Cancer Care in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

While AI has great potential in oncology, its adoption into clinical practice will require additional testing and discussion. Research and collaboration between health care clinicians, researchers, and technology developers is still ongoing in an effort to unlock the full potential of AI to benefit patients with cancer.

Evolving Landscape of Ethics in Oncology: A Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future

In North America during the earlier part of the 20th century, physicians were often reluctant to inform patients about their cancer diagnoses—a reflection of both the paternalism of health care and society in general and of the limited treatment options for cure or control. Although physicians often perceived themselves as protecting patients so they would not give up hope, this paternalistic act denied patients the ability to make autonomous treatment and end-of-life decisions.

Inspiring the future generation of oncologists: a UK-wide study of medical students’ views towards oncology

Despite rising global cancer burden and an increasing global demand for oncologists to join the workforce, several studies report ongoing underrepresentation and lack of consistent undergraduate oncology teaching with few universities offering dedicated oncology teaching blocks

Is a Revolution in Cancer Treatment Within Reach?

Every time a new cancer treatment approach emerges, oncologists and overexcited journalists have a habit of declaring that a cure for cancer is imminent. What’s happening now is different. Rather than a single breakthrough therapy or discovery, a variety of scientific advances are exerting downward pressure on cancer mortality in new ways and at the same time.

Obstacles You’ll Face as an Oncologist & How to Make Your Life Easier

Oncology is a multifaceted and highly diverse field ranging from medical oncologists to gynecologic and geriatric specialists to urologic oncologists, and many more. According to PhysicianView, there are a little over 26,000 oncologists practicing medicine in the U.S, including almost 6,000 radiation oncologists and roughly 1,400 surgical oncologists — with most specializing in oncology/hematology.¹ The outlook for oncology as a branch has been bleak as areas have seen oncology positions remain open, particularly in rural areas. The COVID-19 pandemic only added fuel to the fire, exacerbating an already challenging situation.

Oncologists Diagnose Their Industry’s Issues

Care delivered in rural communities shouldn’t be undervalued.

Precision Medicine: A More Holistic Model For Cancer Care

Cancer's shadow stretches wider than ever, mirroring a pandemic's rapid grip, with diagnoses among young adults surging a staggering 80% in recent decades. While breast cancer remains the most common, a chilling trend sees rising diagnoses among individuals under 50, particularly for colon cancer, where rates have jumped a concerning 13% since 2000. This alarming trend, potentially rooted in sedentary lifestyles and obesity, underscores the desperate need for innovative solutions.

Specialization Trend Is Changing the Oncology Landscape

“Our growing understanding of the biology of cancer has made the disease more complex to manage and treat. Today there are more than 100 identified types of cancer, and some, such as breast and lung cancers, have even further subtypes, often requiring different diagnostic tests and treatments. Specialization allows oncologists to gain expertise in treating specific types of cancer, with the goal of improving patient care,” she said.

Stress In An Oncologist’s Life: Present But Not Insurmountable

Burnout is a serious problem facing the majority of oncologists. Many medical students may regard oncology as depressive part of medicine. This false picture may discourage them from choosing oncology as their future specialization. To learn problems experienced by oncologists and to answer the students’ question: is it dangerous to choose oncology?

The AI boom in cancer: Game-changer or just hype?

According to Ryan Schoenfeld, CEO of the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research AI’s biggest leap in oncology so far has been in diagnostics, more specifically in radiology where advanced image analytics are transforming how we detect and diagnose cancer. “AI can now analyze scans faster and with greater accuracy, helping doctors catch cancer earlier,” he said.

Young oncologists’ perspective on the role and future of the clinician-scientist in oncology

In recent years, the field of oncology has been dramatically transformed by the advent of novel therapies, such as targeted therapies, immune checkpoint inhibitors and advanced cellular therapies, which have revolutionised the management and significantly improved survival of patients in several subtypes of cancer. In parallel, there have also been unprecedented advances in technology platforms including next-generation sequencing and novel circulating biomarkers, which have now become readily accessible. Big data and artificial intelligence continue to evolve rapidly and will play a major role in shaping cancer research and clinical applications.

Resources

American Oncology Network

We partner with physicians and their practices to help them navigate the complex healthcare landscape, improve quality of care and elevate community oncology.