Do Radiation Oncologists do any mission/relief work?

[zinciest]

This is a question from a premed who knows close to nothing about radiation oncology. I'm coming from an engineering/physics/math background, so it seems like a pretty cool specialty. I was wondering if radiation oncologists ever go overseas to do aid work, or if the technology required makes radiation oncology and mission work incompatible? Is it possible for radiation oncologists to go overseas and function in some other medical capacity if they can't do what's in their usual scope of practice?

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[Gfunk6]

It is difficult to do this type of work as a radiation oncologist. Countries which lack proper medical facilities do not have funds to purchase cobalt machines (let alone a linear accelerator). The greatest need of folks in developing countries is primary care and prevention, not much call for radiation oncologists.

With that said ASTRO/ARRO does have some opportunities for international work. But if you want to make it a major part of your life, other specialties will definitely offer you beter opportunities.

 

[Palex80]

This is a question from a premed who knows close to nothing about radiation oncology. I'm coming from an engineering/physics/math background, so it seems like a pretty cool specialty. I was wondering if radiation oncologists ever go overseas to do aid work, or if the technology required makes radiation oncology and mission work incompatible? Is it possible for radiation oncologists to go overseas and function in some other medical capacity if they can't do what's in their usual scope of practice?

The IAEA has some job opportunities every now and then.
Radiation oncologists in the IAEA are responsible for consulting and guiding less developed countries in setting up treatment facilities. They also distribute UN money, etc...

 

[Brim]

Is it possible for radiation oncologists to go overseas

I've always wanted to be a radiation oncologist working on a cruise ship.

 

[G'ville Nole]

I've always wanted to be a radiation oncologist working on a cruise ship.

Just remember to expand your PTVs appropriately to account for rough seas.

 

[Palex80]

Just remember to expand your PTVs appropriately to account for rough seas.

You find this funny, but I have actually thought of a business plan for a big cruise ship full of LINACs sailing around the world, while all the passengers undergo treatment.
I would fill it up with breast and prostate cancer patients, but one could take on some more "fitter" patients onboard too, like postop sarcomas and so on.
H&N patients would be a no-go, since their presence alone would ruin the day for all the other passeng... I mean... patients!

The LINACs would be based in the lowest deck, so you don't need towards the bottom, making the ship lighter. One could actually install big fishing nets behind the ship, that would gather all the dead fish that would be irradiated to death when the gantry is pointed at 0° and killing all the fish that are swimming beneath the ship.

I would irradiate all of the day and offer cheaper prices for those, that opt to receive treatment during the night.

As a propulsion I was thinking of a nuclear reactor, so particles would be available for irradiation too.

I would sell the rights for TV shows to big networks, so that a soap opera could be produced aboard. That would be a good PR-boost.
I would have exclusive rights to sell medication onboard and passengers would not be allowed to bring their own medication. Therefore, through good deals with the pharmaceutical industry, big profits would emerge.
Just think of all the antiemetics patients would need!

So, what do you think?

 

[DrJD]

You find this funny, but I have actually thought of a business plan for a big cruise ship full of LINACs sailing around the world, while all the passengers undergo treatment.
I would fill it up with breast and prostate cancer patients, but one could take on some more "fitter" patients onboard too, like postop sarcomas and so on.
H&N patients would be a no-go, since their presence alone would ruin the day for all the other passeng... I mean... patients!

The LINACs would be based in the lowest deck, so you don't need towards the bottom, making the ship lighter. One could actually install big fishing nets behind the ship, that would gather all the dead fish that would be irradiated to death when the gantry is pointed at 0° and killing all the fish that are swimming beneath the ship.

I would irradiate all of the day and offer cheaper prices for those, that opt to receive treatment during the night.

As a propulsion I was thinking of a nuclear reactor, so particles would be available for irradiation too.

I would sell the rights for TV shows to big networks, so that a soap opera could be produced aboard. That would be a good PR-boost.
I would have exclusive rights to sell medication onboard and passengers would not be allowed to bring their own medication. Therefore, through good deals with the pharmaceutical industry, big profits would emerge.
Just think of all the antiemetics patients would need!

So, what do you think?

Added bonus to your plan, is that since you would be in international waters you won't have to go along with whatever socialistic healthcare model ends up getting set up here in the USA

 

[Gfunk6]

As an added benefit, your Linac would come in handy were you ever boarded by pirates. Just set the gantry to 90 or 180 degrees. I mean it wouldn't stop them from robbing you in the short term I guess. But they would get a surprise in a couple of weeks with alopecia, myelosupression, and copious diarrhea . . .

 

[medgator]

You find this funny, but I have actually thought of a business plan for a big cruise ship full of LINACs sailing around the world, while all the passengers undergo treatment.
I would fill it up with breast and prostate cancer patients, but one could take on some more "fitter" patients onboard too, like postop sarcomas and so on.

There could be some quick 20/5 or 30/10 cruise packages around the Bahamas or the Mediterranean. Let the radiation and a rum runner take away your bone pain

The only problem with the breast pts might be that they'd want to go sunbathe the rest of the day.

 

[DrJD]

So I have a question to add to this thread:

Is sounds like opportunities to serve in a mission/relief work capacity are limited in radiation oncology. Would it be possible for a radiation oncologist to serve as a generalist on a short term missions trip? By the time you are in practice do you remember enough to do that?

 

[G'ville Nole]

So I have a question to add to this thread:

Is sounds like opportunities to serve in a mission/relief work capacity are limited in radiation oncology. Would it be possible for a radiation oncologist to serve as a generalist on a short term missions trip? By the time you are in practice do you remember enough to do that?

I'd say yes, assuming that the scope of the mission is confined to general medicine. I did two med missions as a 1st and 2nd year med student under M.D. supervision, and even at that early point in my training, things were pretty straightforward, although quite different from US medical practice. In most cases you really have nothing other than your H&P to rely on for diagnosis, and thus end up providing treatment empirically. Lots of antibiotics and antihelminthics are typically given out, vaccines if you have them, vitamins etc. It's a very good and frankly eye opening experience for anyone.

Worst case I saw was a locally advanced breast cancer growing out of the skin in a remote village in Haiti. A linac would've come in handy, but she got Tylenol instead. Very sad.

 

[Brim]

As an added benefit, your Linac would come in handy were you ever boarded by pirates. Just set the gantry to 90 or 180 degrees. I mean it wouldn't stop them from robbing you in the short term I guess. But they would get a surprise in a couple of weeks with alopecia, myelosupression, and copious diarrhea . . .

That's an excellent thought, Gfunk. It would not be effective against ninja pirates, however.

 

[DrJD]

So what about international work in general? I know different specialties lend themselves to practicing in other countries, how easy is it with radiation oncology? If one wanted to practice for a couple years in Australia, or a European country? Independent of licensing issues, which I believe are the same across all specialties, is there a perceived desire by international radiation oncologists to have US MD's come practice with them for a little while?

 

[Palex80]

Independent of licensing issues, which I believe are the same across all specialties, is there a perceived desire by international radiation oncologists to have US MD's come practice with them for a little while?

It's always interesting to see how people across the ocean view indications, treatment planning, therapeutic concepts, etc.
I would be really happy to have someone from the US in our department.

One big bonus that you have as a US doctor is the language. You can be certain that the vast majority of colleagues abroad speak your language.

 

[MD13]

So, in all seriousness - I understand that providing RadOnc care in rural Africa would not be feasible; but what is the potential for a RadOnc to provide general medical care in that same community (say a couple times a year). Is it feasible to expect to be able to go on mission trips while practicing as an attending? (ie does your training and the environment allow for such a possibility?)

 

[Gfunk6]

After four years of Rad Onc training you are in no way, shape or form prepared to do medical mission work of the general sort. You are a specialist in prescribing, planning and delivering treatments using ionizing radiation for cancer.

If you want to do mission work do an FM or IM residency.

 

[DrJD]

I'd say yes, assuming that the scope of the mission is confined to general medicine. I did two med missions as a 1st and 2nd year med student under M.D. supervision, and even at that early point in my training, things were pretty straightforward, although quite different from US medical practice. In most cases you really have nothing other than your H&P to rely on for diagnosis, and thus end up providing treatment empirically. Lots of antibiotics and antihelminthics are typically given out, vaccines if you have them, vitamins etc. It's a very good and frankly eye opening experience for anyone.

Worst case I saw was a locally advanced breast cancer growing out of the skin in a remote village in Haiti. A linac would've come in handy, but she got Tylenol instead. Very sad.

After four years of Rad Onc training you are in no way, shape or form prepared to do medical mission work of the general sort. You are a specialist in prescribing, planning and delivering treatments using ionizing radiation for cancer.

If you want to do mission work do an FM or IM residency.

There is a difference of opinion...

Edit: Fixed , ha

 

[Gfunk6]

Well . . . duh.

The poster asked for opinions and he got them.

 

[DrJD]

Well . . . duh.

The poster asked for opinions and he got them.

I fixed my previous post to be a more accurate summary

 

[Werg]

I know of a few medical physicists who have gone to South America and SE Asia to do radiation therapy work. What they did there primarily consisted of training people and helping to make sure the (older, generally second hand) machines were functioning well. I'd imagine that rad oncs would do "mission work" in a similar capacity, working along side local rad oncs and sharing knowledge.

I think the most likely scenario for real mission style field work would be with electronic brachytherapy, with in its applicability.