In the government sector, a surgical/medical oncologist could earn Rs 30,000 a month while a radiation oncologist may get R25,000 a month. Higher in the hierarchy, the take-home salaries will be Rs 90,000 and Rs 80,000 a month. Packages vary in the private sector
A fresher oncologist may make Rs 60,000 to Rs 2 lakh a month (in a good institution)

An average workday of a medical oncologist:
8.30am: Reach hospital. Attend tumour board meeting (with surgical and radiation oncologists, a gynaecologist, a pathologist, etc), 9.30am: Go for ward rounds, 10.30am: Meet patients in the OPD, 5pm: Evening round in wards, 6.30pm: Leave for the day

• Fully equipped and trained to ensure a patient’s comfort – physical and psychological
• Be sensitive, compassionate
• Good inter-personal skills; you will need to help a patient deal with the emotional upheaval once cancer has been detected
• Be a good listener
• Be self-motivated and able to put in a huge effort

• It is a respected profession
• A very-well paying job
• Patients and their families repose a lot of faith in you
• Training takes time
• There is great deal of satisfaction in treating patients and increasing their life span
• It can be a difficult profession to be in since a fair number of your patients may not survive
• You need keep updating yourself; go for continuing medical education (CME) courses
• Your work may expose you to potentially hazardous machinery and chemicals

Study science with physics, chemistry and biology in Class 12. After completing high school, go for an MBBS degree, after which you can do either of these three-year courses: a) MS, followed by a three-year MCh programme, b) MD (medicine/ paediatrics), topped up with a DM (medical oncology) qualification or c) MD in radiotherapy. If you can’t do MS or MD, opt for a DNB (diploma).

• Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai
• www.tatamemorialcentre.com
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi,
• Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Delhi
• Batra Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Delhi
• Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad
• Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore
• Dr Balabhai Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai