TheOncoPT Podcast
Welcome to TheOncoPT Podcast, where you'll learn how to be a confident, competent oncology physical therapist from oncology experts, practitioners, & patients.
Episodes
Most PTs don't fail their specialization exam because the oncology content is too hard — most of the time, it's because they treat a 6-to-12-month endurance event like a weekend cram session.
This episode gives you the exact study framework to build a sustainable plan, prioritize high-yield content, and arrive on exam day sharp, rested, and ready.
Specialization prep is a marathon. If you sprint, y...
Oncology specialization is not the right path for everyone. So how do you actually decide if it's right for you?
This episode is for OncoPTs who are weighing whether ABPTS oncology board certification is worth your time, energy, and commitment... and want an honest framework for making that call.
In this episode, we cover:
· Why going into specialization for the wrong reasons leads to a lot of work ...
Do you remember your early oncology evals? How long they took, how much you were scrambling, how you were lucky to get to treatment before the session was over?
That was most of us. And it stayed that way... until specialization changed everything.
In this episode I'm getting real about what actually shifted in my clinical practice when I went through the ABPTS oncology specialization process.
...
Even after understanding the financial reality of specialization, many oncology PTs still feel stuck trying to decide whether specialization is worth it.
In this episode, we go deeper into the internal conflict behind this decision...and why you may still feel torn between continuing to “figure it out as they go” versus choosing a more structured path.
In this episode, we cover:
&nb...
If you’ve been asking yourself whether oncology specialization is actually worth it, you are not alone.
But most physical therapists are evaluating this decision using the wrong criteria. In this episode, we unpack the real question behind “is specialization worth it?” and why the answer has less to do with salary -- and more to do with how you practice.
In this episode, we cove...
If your case report already feels harder than expected, it’s probably not the writing...
...it's the case you chose.
In this episode, we walk through what’s actually making the process more difficult - and how to think about your case report more strategically so you can move forward with clarity.
In this episode, we cover:
- What actually makes a case report feel difficult<...
If you have a few case report options but don’t feel confident choosing, this is the stage where most people get stuck.
In this episode, we walk through what’s actually making the process more difficult - and how to think about your case report more strategically so you can move forward with clarity.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why having multiple case report ideas can create hesi...
Just because a case is interesting doesn't mean it's strong...and that's where a lot of PTs go wrong.
In this episode, you'll hear what ABPTS graders are actually evaluating your case report for (*hint: it's not how interesting your case is*) - and how to pick a case that will meet grader expectations from the start.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why interesting cases don’t always make stro...
If your case report already feels harder than expected, it’s probably not the writing...
...it's the case you chose.
In this episode, we walk through what’s actually making the process more difficult - and how to think about your case report more strategically so you can move forward with clarity.
In this episode, we cover:
- What actually makes a case report feel difficult<...
Frameworks are helpful when you first start in OncoPT... but real-life oncology rehab isn't so black and white.
In this episode, we unpack the nuances that don’t always fit neatly into structured case walkthroughs: the dynamic nature of working with oncology patients, having to recalibrate when things don't go as planned, and the invisible cognitive load of complex decision-making.
If you’v...
There’s a version of “playing it safe” in OncoPT that has nothing to do with protecting your patient... and everything to do with protecting *yourself*.
In this episode, we examine how fear evolves over time, how reputation anxiety can influence your progression decisions, and how to distinguish true clinical caution from professional self-protection.
This is a firm but necessary refl...
Holding treatment in OncoPT can feel deeply uncomfortable...
...not because you don’t understand safety, but because your professional identity is tied to helping.
In this episode, we explore why deciding not to treat can feel like failure, how your clinical judgment matures over time, and why early-career OncoPTs often measure value by how much they do in a session.
We discuss the shift t...
Treating patients with bone metastases carries a unique mental weight in OncoPT.
In this episode, we unpack why these decisions often linger long after your patient session ends - and why second-guessing doesn’t necessarily mean you lack competence.
We explore the psychological load of fracture risk, the discomfort of uncertainty, and why comfort with uncertainty is a learned skill in oncology pr...
The final weeks before the ABPTS Oncology Exam can feel emotionally intense, even when preparation has been solid. Anxiety often increases, and it’s tempting to change everything at the last minute.
In this episode, we talk about how to approach the final stretch with focus and restraint, why last-minute overhauls increase stress, and how confidence comes from execution — not cramming.
In t...
At this point in exam prep, many oncology physical therapists find themselves asking, “Is it too late?”
And this LOADED question often comes with fear, pressure, and self-doubt.
In this episode, we talk through how to think about this question honestly and calmly, how fear distorts decision-making, and why discernment is a critical professional skill.
We cover:
• Why this questio...
Studying for the ABPTS Oncology Exam while working full-time can make it feel like you’re never doing enough. When time is limited, HOW you study matters more than how long you study.
You'll hear why busy clinicians often default to passive studying, how time pressure increases second-guessing, and what actually helps when your schedule is full.
In this episode, we cover:
• Why time scarcity i...
Many oncology physical therapists default to studying EVERYTHING when preparing for the ABPTS Oncology Exam. It feels responsible...but this often leads to overstudying, decision fatigue, and unnecessary stress.
You'll hear why overstudying is so common, how it undermines your confidence, and why prioritization is a skill that matters more than volume.
In this episode, we cover:
• Why “studyin...
If you’re preparing for the ABPTS Oncology Specialty Exam and feeling overwhelmed or unsure whether you’re studying the right things, you’re not alone. This stage of exam prep often brings more anxiety — not because you’re failing, but because clarity matters more than effort.
You'll hear why overwhelm is so common at this point, what actually increases stress during studying, an...
What happens when we know exercise improves outcomes for cancer survivors…but most patients still can’t access it?
In this episode, I sit down with the guest speakers behind the upcoming APTA CSM session “Mind the Gaps: Advancing Equitable Implementation of Evidence-Based Exercise Programs for Survivors of Cancer” to unpack the real-world barriers between evidence and practice in exerci...
You’ve probably heard that “the soft skills are actually the hardest skills.” But what happens when your interpersonal skills are put to the test in the most chaotic and emotionally charged moments of patient care?
In this episode, we unpack why so-called “difficult” patients behave the way they do, how fear and loss of control drive conflict, and why oncology physical therapists are uni...
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