Why Oncology? Reflections from an IMT Doctor Exploring Medical Oncology

Written by Dr Mehak Ahsan (IMT)

As an Internal Medicine Trainee in UK, I have always been curious about the different areas of

medicine and what makes a specialty feel right for someone. Oncology was a specialty I found particularly intriguing, but for a long time, my understanding of it was largely based on what I encountered during general medical training. I wanted to explore it beyond that perspective and understand what makes Oncology such a fascinating and rapidly evolving field.

One of the ways I began exploring Oncology was through attending Oncology-related

conferences and educational opportunities. I initially approached these simply out of curiosity, without feeling that I needed to have already decided on a career in Oncology. I wanted to listen, learn and get a sense of what the specialty was really like.

What stood out to me was how much broader Oncology is than I had initially appreciated. It is a specialty where medicine, science and innovation come together constantly. I found the

discussions around new treatments, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, personalised medicine and clinical research particularly interesting. The pace at which the field is developing was something I found exciting there always seemed to be something new to learn or a new question being explored.

I also enjoyed the academic side of Oncology. Conferences gave me the opportunity to hear

about developments in areas I had not previously explored in depth and to appreciate how

research can translate into changes in clinical practice. It made me realise that Oncology is a

specialty where curiosity is incredibly valuable. There is always a reason to ask, “Can we do this better?” or “Could there be another way of approaching this?”

Perhaps the most useful thing I gained from these experiences was not a definitive answer about my future career, but a growing interest in finding out more. Exploring Oncology changed it from being a specialty I was simply curious about into one that I genuinely wanted to understand better.

I think this is one of the most valuable reasons to seek out opportunities outside our usual clinical environment. You do not necessarily need to know exactly what you want to specialise in before attending a conference, joining a society, getting involved in research or going to an educational event. Sometimes you discover what interests you by simply giving yourself the opportunity to

explore it.

For anyone considering Oncology, my advice would be: be curious before you try to be certain.

Attend a conference, listen to a talk, join an Oncology society, speak to someone working in the specialty like Oncology trainee or consultant or look for an opportunity to get involved in an academic project. You may discover an area of Oncology that you had never previously

considered.

For me, exploring Oncology has been a journey that started with curiosity. I am still learning

about the specialty, but each opportunity has made me more interested in discovering where that curiosity might lead.