Help a youth decide the right career in medicine?

Question

I'm 13 and the career I want is being a Cancer Treatment Doctor, but I want to know which kind of cancer to be treated on someone makes it mandatory for me to see their blood because I'm really squeamish (I have a phobia of seeing lots of blood), and if that cancer to be treated makes it mandatory for me seeing a lot of blood, then I'd like to know which is a cancer to be treated that does not make it mandatory to see a lot of blood (just some in one of those glass plates doctors and scientists put under a microscope). Thanks!

Answer 1

If you want to be a physician, then go for it.  You don't choose a specialty until you are about to finish medical school, which is about 12 years away for you.  (Like your whole lifetime over again!)

Most cancer doctors (oncologists) are also trained to be blood specialists (hematologists), but don't worry about that now.  None of them see much blood.  Surgery is where the real blood-letting happens.  You'll have to do at least 3 months of surgery in medical school, but you'll get through it.

For me, watching cancer patients waste away to nothing is much worse than seeing bucketfuls of blood.  We're all different, though.

Answer 2

Your going to have to see blood.  That is just a fact.  Even if you are an oncologist(cancer doctor) you will still have to do residency.  When you are in residency you have to go through the ER and trauma center if your residency hospital has one, which I believe it should.  This means you will be seeing LOTS of blood, if only for a few months.  If you are really set on doing it, then go for it.  You can get over your fear of blood.  It may take some time, but most people find that they can overcome things of that nature.

Answer 3

you are still young and you have a while until you will need to make that decision.

there are cancer centers that you can do some research on.

i don't know the ones in your area, but one where i am at is called MD Anderson Cancer Center, google it and see if that gives you any info

good luck!