By Gina Hartoog

Did you know that cancer can affect almost every part of the human body, including the eyes and heart? Cancer starts when abnormal cells in the body grow out of control. These ‘mis-programmed’ cells should die off, but instead they start forming new cells and invade other tissues in the body. Cancer affects one in four South Africans.  

Medical and radiation oncologists

‘An oncologist assesses patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and maps out possible treatment options, delivers the treatment and formulates a prognosis,” explains Dr Keora­petse Tabane, a medical oncologist at Sandton Oncology Centre. 

Medical oncology is the diagnosis, assessment, treatment and management of the cancer patient with chemotherapy, hormonal therapies and biological agents, while radiation oncologists specialise in radiation therapy. Medical oncologists must first qualify as specialist physicians before specialising in medical oncology. Radiation oncologists start their training after their medical degree qualification.

Road to medicine

Dr Keo completed her undergraduate training at Medunsa and qualified in 1999. “I then did my internship at Kalafong Hospital in Pretoria, followed by community service in Potgietersrus in 2001,” she recalls.

After working with emergency personnel for a few months, she returned to Johannesburg to do her physician speciality training. Later, she made the decision to sub-specialise in medical oncology. After completing this qualifi­cation, Dr Keo started at Sandton Oncology Centre in 2008.

Work ethic

Essential personal qualities for success in the career are good communication skills and being a team player. “You need to be compassionate and patient to be able to see the world through someone else’s eyes and identify with their anxieties,” she says. While being empathetic and under­standing, the oncologist must also remain professional and keep his or

Work hours are determined by the hospital or practice. Within state hospitals overtime will be factored into your contract. You may also get to travel to meetings and conferences around the world.

Negative news and positive rewards

Delivering sad news can be challenging for the oncologist, especially when the prognosis is poor. “Human beings are inherently good people who want to spare others suffering,” she says. “Seeing people hurt and their families suffer because of this disease can be quite a challenge.”

If there’s one thing that Dr Keo enjoys about her work, it’s seeing the strength of human nature prevail. “It’s a good feeling when patients get through their treatment, do well and get cured,” she smiles. “The way they reclaim their strength and their lives are amazing and humbling to witness!”

She recalls an especially touching story of two pregnant patients who were both diagnosed with cancer during their pregnancies. With the right treatment and Dr Keo’s dedication and expertise, they were both cured and delivered healthy babies. “The contrast of potential death and new life side by side, with life emerging victorious in the end was very special,” she adds.

Following in her footsteps

Work prospects in oncology across the globe are excellent, with other opportunities in non-profit organisations and cancer education. Dr Keo says that what makes oncology a different area of medicine to pursue is the vast amount of ongoing research and development in the field. “It’s also a personal journey of growth, bolstered by the interaction with patients, and journeying with them in a difficult period in their lives,” she notes.

Says Dr Keo on the challenge of choosing a career: “Choose what you are passionate about, because then success is guaranteed. Never settle for what someone else wants you to do, but what you love to do. Remember we spend so much of our adult lives working, why not do what you love and love life in return?”