ONCOLOGY FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS

50 fifth-year students of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the Krakow Academy. Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski completed classes in the subject Oncology and palliative care. The second block of classes for subsequent students will take place in the summer semester. The head of this course is Marcin Hetnał, MD, PhD, medical director of the Amethyst Radiotherapy Center and head of the Radiotherapy Department of the Rydygier Hospital in Krakow.

The subject Oncology and palliative care includes 30 hours of lectures and seminars and 45 hours of exercises. Specialist doctors were invited to conduct classes and share their professional experience. The program will also include work with a psychologist on communication with the patient and his family. Students have the opportunity to learn about the operation of multidisciplinary teams and specialized equipment, because some of the classes are practical. Lectures are held online, but the exercises, while maintaining the sanitary regime, were conducted stationary at the Amethyst Radiotherapy Center and at the Hospital. L. Rydygier in Krakow.

- We pay special attention to "oncological vigilance", which is crucial for the early diagnosis of cancer, and the role of combination treatment involving the use of several therapeutic methods in the same patient, which allows for obtaining the best therapy results. Modern oncology is a team effort that requires the cooperation of many specialists  – emphasizes Dr Marcin Hetnał.

There are 160 new cancer cases reported annually in Poland, and it is estimated that this number may increase to 185 in the next ten years. Meanwhile, the shortage of specialized doctors who could take care of cancer patients is growing.

- In the context of the increase in cancer cases, two education issues are particularly important. The first concerns increasing the number of clinical oncologists, radiation oncology specialists, and surgeons, so we need to teach students in such a way as to encourage them to choose oncological specializations. The second issue is to increase knowledge about cancer among doctors of all specializations, because only in this way the early detection of cancer will improve and many patients will have a chance for effective treatment. – says Dr Marcin Hetnał.