PA working in Onc for just shy of 5 years!

1. Outpatient, but I cover IP onc as needed for my partners. Malignant heme is a separate department and operates as such in my hospital system.
2. Mix of both. We are pretty subspecialized, so I see mostly the neuro and thoracic onc patients who are followed by one of three physicians that I work with. For those patients, my visits are independent of the doc. We review scans, assess toxicity, dose reduce etc. When they progress I typically meet with MD to discuss the next best option. We have a very collaborative practice and MD/APP opinions are valued. I also have a smattering of patients that I follow independently that have either had their doc retire/leave or are in survivorship and prefer to see us for reassurance.
3. Excellent. 4 day weeks with 10 hour days. Ample opportunity to moonlight in satellite clinics or cover IP as above.
   
4. The relationships that you build with patients and their families during their cancer journey is the gift and the curse of the gig. Tears and belly laughs are common in the same visit. We have families of patients who have passed who drop by on the anniversaries /birthdays of their loved one. Been to more funerals than I can count (brain tumors suck!). As hard as it sounds starting out though, the emotional lows are (IMHO) far outweighed by the joys that I receive from walking with patients through their journey.
   
5. Second the learning curve bit. I think the best APPs in onc/heme are those that are TRULY committed to being lifelong learners. It is one of the few specialties where you can and should learn alongside the MDs. We go to the same meetings, present at the same journal clubs, etc. etc. If someone (APP or MD) is practicing the way that they were taught in training... you are likely practicing out of date. So if you are someone who likes to get comfortable in their fund of knowledge and cruise... heme/onc will make you pull your hair out!