Outpatient Oncology (Clinical Elective)

2 units

Students will gain experience in the initial treatment of newly-diagnosed malignancies and the outpatient management of oncology patients. Participation in multidisciplinary tumor conferences will stress a combined-modality approach to management, incorporating systemic therapy, radiotherapy and surgery. Students will see patients with a variety of malignancies, including lymphoma, myeloma, and tumors of the lung, breast, and colon. Management of hypercalcemia and other paraneoplastic syndromes, as well as cancer pain management, will be covered. Students will have the opportunity to see how most oncologists spend 90% of their workday. They will observe different styles that oncologists use when presenting news about prognosis, treatment options, and other information to patients while they also learn about the molecular basis for cancer, the mechanisms of action for our therapies (particularly the newer agents which target specific molecular abnormalities), and the key studies that justify the use of therapies (e.g. randomized studies showing that after surgery, chemotherapy will reduce the risk of recurrence from a particular cancer with a particular regimen). By spending time with clinicians, students will learn how to identify hereditary syndromes, use drugs for symptom relief, and also learn how radiographic and laboratory tests allow oncologists to care for patients.