Oncology project

Oncology is a branch of medicine which is concerned with Cancer, and its most basic level, involves the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. This year we have project on oncology which contributes 25% of the marks of one of the subject panels. This project is compulsory, running from September to April next year. I’ve been allocated, like everyone else, into a tutor group of 6-7 students with an oncologist (Doctor specialised in oncology).

The Oncologist introduced each one of us in the group to a different cancer patient – in a clinic. Everyone now must follow the patient through their cancer journey over 4-6 months. During this period I have to get a full medical history of my patient and visit him at home at least once. Also I must accompany him to clinics, investigations, treatment, and I have to get all these documented. At the end of the project I must submit a portfolio which must include a summary of the patient's history and its evolution over the six months and a diary of my interactions with the patient, and then I have to write an essay about any topic related to cancer.

I remember last year I had another project ‘’ family case study’’ which was about a mother and her newborn baby, and the way that project had to be done was very similar to the one I have now. I remember I was typing my diary after each visit I made to the family on my laptop. Unfortunately, however, my My laptop's hard drive decided to die just a week before my project deadline, thus I've lost all my data including the diaries.Therefore, this time, I’ve decided to blog about every visit I make to my cancer patient as it will be the safest way to keep my diaries from being lost.