# Medical specialization

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-specialization/620255>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 28, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-specialization/620255 "2012-04-28T18:48:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-specialization/620255/1 "2012-04-28T18:48:57Z")

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Which is more likely:

1.An oncology surgeon who does transplants?  
2.A transplant surgeon with mostly cancer patients?

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-specialization/620255/2 "2012-04-28T19:36:36Z")

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It is a pretty odd question. I doubt that either of them are common at all but #2 is more plausible to me.

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**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-specialization/620255/3 "2012-04-28T19:42:41Z")

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I’m an odd duck **Shag**. 😃

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-specialization/620255/4 "2012-04-28T20:18:02Z")

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I agree with **Shag** , on both points.

A transplant surgeon could end up doing a lot of livers on folks with hepatomas.

Less likely to do many transplants on renal cancer patients, though. Usually only one kidney involved in the cancer, after all.

Though a surgical oncologist would also have similar opportunities, I suppose.

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**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-specialization/620255/5 "2012-04-28T20:19:10Z")

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My inclination was #2 as well, thanks guys.

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**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-specialization/620255/6 "2012-04-29T02:00:35Z")

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It’s definitely 3. A medical oncologist who does stem cell transplants.

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-specialization/620255/7 "2012-04-29T02:10:11Z")

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How about a Gastroenterologist who does [Fecal transplantation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fecal_bacteriotherapy)?

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-specialization/620255/8 "2012-04-29T03:34:08Z")

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Now a psychiatrist who does optical exams - those are hard to find.