Oncologist
You fight cancer – and Africa's cancer burden is rising while its treatment capacity is dangerously low.
What this life looks like
Cancer does not discriminate and it does not wait. As an Oncologist you specialise in diagnosing and treating cancer – one of the most complex and rapidly evolving fields in all of medicine. You might be a medical oncologist prescribing chemotherapy and immunotherapy, a radiation oncologist delivering targeted radiotherapy, or a surgical oncologist performing tumour removal surgery. Whatever your subspecialty, you walk alongside patients through one of the most frightening experiences of their lives, bringing your scientific knowledge and your human compassion together in every consultation. Africa is facing a cancer crisis. Cases are rising steeply as populations age and lifestyles change – yet the continent has fewer than 700 radiation oncologists for 1.4 billion people, and most African countries have no functional radiotherapy capacity at all. The women who train in oncology now will quite literally be building African cancer care from the ground up.
What she actually does
Medical oncologists prescribe and manage systemic cancer treatments including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy. Radiation oncologists plan and deliver radiotherapy treatment. Surgical oncologists perform cancer-related operations. All oncologists stage cancers, communicate diagnoses and prognoses to patients and families, manage treatment side effects, coordinate multidisciplinary cancer teams, and support patients through palliative and end-of-life care when cure is not possible.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Oncology units and cancer centres in teaching hospitals | Lagos University Teaching Hospital Oncology Unit (Nigeria), Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital Cancer Centre (South Africa), Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Oncology Unit (Ghana), Kenyatta National Hospital Cancer Centre (Kenya) |
| Private cancer treatment facilities | Aga Khan University Hospital Cancer Centre (Kenya), Netcare Milpark Hospital Oncology (South Africa), Lakeshore Cancer Centre (Nigeria), Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (South Africa) |
| NGO cancer programmes | Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), Breast Cancer Foundation Nigeria, African Cancer Foundation (Nigeria), Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon programme across sub-Saharan Africa |
| International research organisations | the African Cancer Coalition and the International Agency for Research on Cancer |
| Pharmaceutical and biotech companies working on cancer treatments | Roche South Africa, Novartis Africa oncology divisions, Johnson & Johnson Africa, AstraZeneca sub-Saharan Africa |
| Academic oncology departments | University of Witwatersrand Division of Oncology (South Africa), University of Lagos College of Medicine, University of Nairobi Department of Clinical Oncology, Stellenbosch University Faculty of Medicine |
Why it matters in Africa
Cancer incidence in Africa is projected to nearly double by 2040. Cervical cancer – entirely preventable with vaccination and screening – is the leading cancer killer of women in sub-Saharan Africa because screening and treatment programmes are inadequate. Breast cancer is frequently diagnosed at advanced stages because early detection is limited. The ratio of radiotherapy machines to population in Africa is approximately 1 per 5 million people compared to 1 per 250,000 in high-income countries.
Your pathway in
Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics at secondary school. Then MBBS or MBChB over five to six years. After housemanship, a residency in Internal Medicine, Radiology, or Surgery depending on your oncology subspecialty. Then fellowship in oncology through recognised bodies such as the West African College of Physicians or international bodies. Many African oncologists undertake part of their training at major cancer centres internationally before returning. The full pathway takes 12 to 16 years.
Skills you will need
Technical: Cancer staging, chemotherapy prescribing and toxicity management, radiotherapy planning for radiation oncologists, surgical oncology techniques, tumour biology, and clinical trial methodology. Human: The ability to communicate devastating diagnoses with honesty and compassion, supporting patients and families through prolonged and difficult treatment, managing end-of-life conversations, and sustaining your own emotional resilience over a career dealing with serious illness. Digital tools: Oncology information systems, radiotherapy planning software, genomic testing platforms, and clinical trial databases.
A woman in this field
Dr. Maureen Joffe
South Africa
South African cancer epidemiologist and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand, and Director of the Non-Communicable Diseases Research Division at the Wits Health Consortium. She leads research on the epidemiology of breast cancer in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on disparities in outcomes, barriers to early diagnosis, and the intersection of HIV and breast cancer. Her work has contributed significantly to shaping cancer prevention and screening policy across the region.
Take your first step
Start by learning about the cancers most common in African women – cervical cancer, breast cancer, and liver cancer. The World Health Organisation has excellent free resources on each. Biology and Chemistry at school are essential. Look at what the African Cancer Coalition is publishing to understand how African researchers are tackling the cancer crisis. Understanding the problem deeply will strengthen your motivation throughout the long training ahead.