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DM - Paediatric Oncology

  • 4 Colleges

Paediatric oncology is a field of medicine that deals with the treatment of childhood cancer. .

Paediatric oncology is a field of medicine that deals with the treatment of childhood cancer. This can be seen as a sub-branch in oncology and is a different specialisation because most cancers that are seen in children are different from those seen in adults. The focus groups in paediatric oncology are children, teens and infants. Doctors trained in this field are specialised in treating children and making them comfortable during the course of treatment. Some common cancers that can be seen in children are leukaemia, neuroblastoma, bone cancer, retinoblastoma, lymphoma, etc. It is observed that cancer treatment works favourably for children better than for adults. This is because most children won’t be having any other body conditions in addition to cancer, this enables the body to handle stronger treatments which is not the case in adults. 

DM in paediatric oncology is a course that will give the candidates a diversified and well-structured environment to develop both theoretical and clinical skills need to become a successful paediatric oncologist. The course provides a strong foundational base in terms of both clinical and laboratory research skills that help candidates to upgrade their career in the direction of their interests. By the end of the course, the students will have attained knowledge, soft skills and practical skills necessary for the profession. Knowledge or cognitive domain includes basic theoretical knowledge in concepts such as biological basis behind childhood cancer, diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer, hematopoeitic stem cell transplantation, knowledge in hematopoietic acid, solid tumour pathology, flow cytometry and laboratory training to name a few. Students shall also be imparted with soft skills such as communication skills, proper etiquette, ethical principles, effective interaction with patients, parents and staffs, and counselling skills. Practical training or psychomotor domain includes training in optimal usage of diagnostic services, good clinical practice, chemotherapy drug handling, pain evaluation and management, caring infants as well as adults, etc. The common teaching methodologies adopted for this course are didactic lectures, seminars, symposia, case discussions, and presentations. Didactic lectures are not given much relevance for this course as compared to the other teaching methodologies listed above. Guest lectures and reviews are given prominence in the curriculum. A strong foundation in research is provided in the course as the curriculum encourages the students to write research articles, identify knowledge gaps and design research protocol. The general objective of the course is to recognise the importance of the speciality, practise the concerned speciality ethically and inculcate theoretical and practical knowledge in the concerned speciality in the context of healthcare.  

Doctor of Medicine (DM) in paediatric oncology is a three-year full-time course offered in some institutes in India. The eligibility of enrolling on this super-speciality course is that the candidate should have an MBBS and MD from an institute recognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI). Candidates are also required to submit the internship certificate during the time of admission. Upon completion of the course, candidates will be employed in many job roles such as a medical oncologist, senior registrar surgical oncology and oncology internal consultant. 

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