Medical oncology
Medical oncologists are doctors who diagnose, assess, treat and manage patients with cancers.
Your goal is to provide the best possible outcomes for your cancer patients, whether that’s a cure or palliative care.
Life as a medical oncologist
Your goal is to provide the best possible outcomes for your cancer patients, whether that’s a cure or palliative care. Whatever the case, you’ll provide treatment and counselling to your patients and their families.
Clinical research is an important part of your role and clinical care, clinical trials, laboratory and translational cancer research will be part of your training.
You’ll be expected to advise your patients on all aspects of their treatment including surgery and radiotherapy as well as having the skills to administer systemic therapies.
Your work will include:
- diagnosing cancers
- discussing treatment options with patients
- arranging and supervising drug treatment and therapies including the management of any complications
- supporting patients and overseeing their care, including after-treatment care
You’ll treat a wide variety of patients from those with localised or metastatic (secondary) tumours to others who will benefit from additional treatment after surgery.
You’ll work as part of a multidisciplinary team, often in partnership with a clinical oncologist, who will treat cancer patients using a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which separates the role from medical oncologists who use non-radiological treatments.
You’ll treat conditions such as:
- colorectal cancer
- breast cancer
- lung cancer
- upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer
- ovarian cancer
- tumours of the kidney (urological cancers)
- leukaemia
- melanoma
How much can I earn?
You’ll first earn a salary when you start your foundation training after medical school. Find out details of current salary ranges for foundation and specialty training, SAS doctors and consultants on the Pay for doctors page.
How about the benefits?
- make a difference
- flexible and part-time working
- high income early in your career
- work anywhere in the world
- excellent pension scheme
- good holiday entitlement
- NHS discounts in shops and restaurants
Must-have skills
- excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, and patients and their families
- emotional resilience, a calm temperament and the ability to work well under pressure
- teamwork and the capacity to lead multidisciplinary teams
- problem-solving and diagnostic skills
- outstanding organisational ability and effective decision-making skills
- first-class time and resource management for the benefit of patients
Entry requirements
Your first step is medical school. Typically, you’ll need excellent GCSEs and three A or A* passes at A level including chemistry for a five-year undergraduate degree in medicine. Many medical schools also ask for biology and others may require maths or physics.
If you already have a degree, you could study for a four-year postgraduate degree in medicine.
You’ll need to pass an interview and admissions test. You’ll be asked to show how you demonstrate the NHS values such as compassion and respect.
Some medical schools look to recruit a mix of students from different backgrounds and geographical areas, so your educational and economic background and family circumstances could be considered as part of your application.
What are my chances of starting a career as a medical oncologist?
There are approximately 485 medical oncologists working in the NHS in England. In 2020, there were 185 applications for 39 specialty training places.
How to become a medical oncologist
After medical school, you’ll join the paid two-year foundation programme where you’ll work in six placements in different settings.
After your foundation programme, you can apply for paid specialty training to become a medical oncologist, which will take a minimum of six years.
You may be able to train part time, for example for health reasons or if you have family or caring responsibilities.
Where a career as a medical oncologist can take you
At the end of your training, you’ll be awarded a CCT (certificate of completion of training). You can apply for consultant roles six months prior to receiving your CCT.
There is no CCT sub-specialty for medical oncology, but most medical oncologists specialise in one to three tumour types including:
- gastrointestinal tract cancers
- urological cancers
- cancers of the blood and lymphatic system
- cancers of the female reproductive system
Some medical oncologists also develop interests in:
- paediatric oncology (diagnosis and treatment of cancer in children)
- palliative care (for patients whose illness cannot be cured)
- the study and application of imaging technologies, such ultrasound, Computed Tomography (CT) Computed Axial Tomography, nuclear medicine, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to diagnose or treat cancers
You’ll also have opportunities to conduct research and teach.
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Locum Consultant Medical Oncologist
Poole, BH152JB
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
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Locum Consultant Medical Oncologist
Gloucester, GL1 3NN
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Locum Consultant Medical Oncologist - Colorectal
Swansea, SA2 8QA
- Salary :
- £121264.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Swansea Bay University Health Board
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Oncology Medical Secretary
Rhyl, LL18 5UJ
- Salary :
- £25313.00 to £26999.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Medical Oncology Consultant
Milton Keynes, MK6 5LD
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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Consultant Medical Oncologist (Gastrointestinal & HPB Cancers)
Southampton, SO16 6YD
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust
-
Consultant Medical Oncology - Breast
Manchester, M20 4BX
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Christie NHS FT
-
Medical Secretary- Oncology
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
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Consultant Medical Oncologist- Special interest in Melanoma
Maidstone, ME16 9QQ
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
-
Medical Oncology Consultant - Breast Cancers
Liverpool, L7 8YA
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHSFT
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Medical Secretary – Oncology B4
Guildford, GU2 7XX
- Salary :
- £28860.00 to £31671.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
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Consultant in Medical Oncology with Clinical Lead Responsibilities
Harrow, HA1 3UJ
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
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Medical Secretaries & Medical Records Team Leader
Worcester, Worcestershire, WR5 3YB
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Spire Healthcare Ltd
-
Medical Secretary
Sleaford, NG34 7HD
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sleaford Medical Group
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Medical Administrator
Wilmslow, SK9 1PA
- Salary :
- £12.42 to £12.92
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Kenmore Medical Centre
-
Medical Receptionist
Liverpool, L21 9HA
- Salary :
- £24367.00 to £24367.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Primary Care 24
-
Medical Secretary
Ipswich, IP9 2QS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Primary Care Careers
-
Medical Receptionist
Wigan, WN2 2QG
- Salary :
- £12.51
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Pennygate Medical Centre
-
Medical Receptionist
Bolton, BL6 5PY
- Salary :
- £12.21
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Pike View Medical Centre
-
Medical Receptionist
Hawarden, CH5 3PA
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Stables Medical Practice
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Medical PA
Chelsea, SW3 6JJ
- Salary :
- £31944.00 to £34937.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Receptionist
Hawarden, CH5 3PA
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Stables Medical Practice
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Medical Director
Birmingham, B24 0DF
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Birmingham Hospice
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Medical Receptionist
Rochdale, OL11 2JG
- Salary :
- £24570.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hope Citadel Healthcare CIC
-
Medical Receptionist
Pontefract, WF9 3AP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Park Green Surgery
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Medical Receptionist
Kirby In Ashfield, NG17 9JB
- Salary :
- £12.49
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Ashfield House Surgery
-
Medical Secretary
Norwich, NR50RS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Coastal Partnership
-
Medical Receptionist
Abingdon, OX14 3LB
- Salary :
- £12.21 to £13.50
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Abingdon Surgery
-
Medical Secretary
Great Yarmouth, NR31 6LA
- Salary :
- £24625.00 to £25674.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Shinfield, RG2 9EH
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South Reading and Shinfield Group Medical Practice
-
Medical Secretary
Plymouth, PL46LF
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Livewell Southwest
-
Medical Secretary
Exeter, EX2 5AF
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Devon Partnership NHS Trust
-
Medical Receptionist
London, NW2 5HA
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Staverton Surgery
-
Medical Receptionist
Helston, TR12 7DQ
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- MULLION & CONSTANTINE GROUP PRACTICE
-
Medical Receptionist
Bushey, WD23 2NN
- Salary :
- £12.21
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Attenborough Surgery
-
Medical Receptionist
Preston, PR3 0ZA
- Salary :
- £12.21
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Great Eccleston Health Centre
-
Medical Secretary
Leigh on Sea, SS9 3NG
- Salary :
- £12.21
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Primary Care Careers
-
Medical Secretary
Bodelwyddan, LL18 5UJ
- Salary :
- £25313.00 to £26999.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Medical Secretary
Leeds, LS14 6DX
- Salary :
- £12.50 to £15.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dr S Laybourn and Partners
-
Medical Receptionist
Crook, DL15 0EQ
- Salary :
- £12.41
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- NHS North Of England Commissioning Support Unit
-
Medical Receptionist
Crook, DL15 0EQ
- Salary :
- £12.41
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- NHS North Of England Commissioning Support Unit
-
Medical Secretary
Scarborough, YO12 6QL
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Yeovil, BA21 4AT
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Leeds, LS14 6DX
- Salary :
- £12.50 to £15.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dr S Laybourn and Partners
-
Medical Secretary
Northallerton, DL7 8AW
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mayford House Surgery
-
Medical Secretary
Gateshead, NE11 0QD
- Salary :
- £12.75
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- Community Based Care Workforce Solutions LTD
-
Medical Receptionist
Dunmow, CM6 1BH
- Salary :
- £12.30 to £12.60
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- John Tasker House & Felsted Surgeries
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Medical Receptionist
Burnley, BB10 3BF
- Salary :
- £12.11
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Thursby Surgery
-
Medical Receptionist
Chester, CH1 4EN
- Salary :
- £12.21
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Garden Lane Medical Centre
-
Medical Secretary
Blackburn, BB1 3BL
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Darlington, DL3 6HX
- Salary :
- £24625.00 to £25674.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Receptionist
Manchester, M14 5NP
- Salary :
- £24638.00 to £26177.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Better Health MCR
-
Medical Secretary
Birmingham, B44 9ER
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Oaks Medical Centre
-
Medical Secretary
Abbots Langley, WD5 0HT
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Torquay, TQ2 7AA
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Receptionist
London, SW1W 8NA
- Salary :
- £13.85
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Belgrave Medical Centre
-
Medical Director
Rochdale, OL16 2UP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Practice Plus Group
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Medical Receptionist
Blackpool, FY4 5AU
- Salary :
- £12.21
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Abbey-Dale Medical Centre
-
Medical Receptionist
Ashton-Under-Lynne, OL5 9AJ
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Pennine Medical Centre
-
Medical Receptionist
Ilkley, LS29 0LZ
- Salary :
- £12.21
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Addingham Surgery
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These organisations have further information about being a medical oncology doctor, particularly as your career progresses. Take a look.
Royal College of Physicians (Joint Collegiate Council for Oncology)
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
Association of Cancer Physicians
And hear from people working in medical oncology:
Cancer therapeutics: medical oncology with clinical pharmacology (BMJ)