Gynecologic oncologist??

Question

What is a gynecologic oncologist and how good is their lifestyle?

Answer 1

Gyn onc deals with female reproductive cancer diagnosis and treatment, usually surgical treatment.  I know a few physicians who specialize in this.  It's a very sad profession, as many of the women with ovarian cancer do not get diagnosed until it's too late to do much for them.

There is a lot of big surgery involved, so if you like the idea of removing female organs (and the lymph nodes nearby, maybe some omentum if it's seeded) and losing a fair number of your patients, then go for it.

Lifestyle isn't as bad as obstetrics (which you first have to be trained in), but surgical emergencies happen at all hours, and you WILL be on call.  (The elective hysterectomy you did in the morning may bleed internally at midnight, you know)   Training after medical school in the US is 4 years of OB/GYN and then another 2 years of fellowship in gyn/onc.

If you're worried about your lifestyle, run away from anything in the medical field.   You have to work your butt off just to get the M.D., and then train for years afterward to be ready to work.  The early years (first 10 yrs or so) of your practice are difficult.  If you ever get a decent lifestyle, you'll be in your forties.

Answer 2

It's a gynecologist or ob who specializes in treatment of women with cancer in their reproductive organs.  I would assume it would be pretty good.

Answer 3

That would be a doctor specializing in female only cancers by definition.  As far as lifestyle, I doubt there are many dedicated to such a limited field; thus the major money would be in research.  You'd find a much better lifestyle as a general oncologist and above that as a general surgeon.  I would progress the paycheck into cosmetic surgery from there.