Summary
This course is open to all physiotherapy professionals wishing to take on breast cancer care. It is not necessary to have prior oncology course.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in Canada, and one in eight women will receive a breast cancer diagnosis during their lifetime. This evidence-based online course will provide you with a solid understanding of the role of physiotherapy professionals in breast cancer care.
First, various surgeries for breast cancer will be discussed, along with the different adjuvant treatments often associated with them and the various potential side effects. Some consequences with a greater impact on functional aspects will be further elaborated, such as Axillary Web Syndrome, neuropathies, post-radiotherapy skin and muscle fibrosis, and lymphedema.
The involvement of physiotherapists, both preoperatively and postoperatively, in promoting optimal recovery after surgery and associated treatments will be explored in greater detail.
In summary, by the end of this course, you will be able to assist this patient population both in preventive and curative aspects. You will be capable of efficiently and safely assessing a patient after breast surgery, providing the best possible care, and promoting their optimal recovery.
We recommend taking this course in conjunction with the lymphedema management course offered by the same instructor.
Objectives
- Understand the different types of breast surgery;
- Understand the neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatments available for non-metastatic breast cancer;
- Know the main side effects of neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatments that have an impact on our physiotherapy interventions;
- Understand what Axillary Web Syndrome is;
- Assess, treat and counsel patients with Axillary Web Syndrome;
- Understand post-operative and post-chemotherapy neuropathies and their associated consequences;
- Know how to counsel users with post-operative or post-chemotherapy neuropathies in order to minimize their consequences and promote their alleviation; Understand post-radiotherapy skin and muscle fibrosis;
- Know how to advise users undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy on the preventive exercises to be applied and the recommended duration of treatment;
- Know how to assess, treat and advise users with post-radiotherapy skin and muscle fibrosis in order to limit the functional impact and maximize their recovery;
- Understand what lymphedema is following breast cancer, and know the evidence on the different risk factors for lymphedema;
- Know how to advise users on the prevention of post-operative lymphedema;
- Know how to assess and detect the early onset of lymphedema;
- Advise patients on the early treatment of lymphedema (without CDT);
- Be familiar with the various preoperative physiotherapy teaching options available to breast cancer patients;
- Explore a model for post-operative physiotherapy group teaching for the prevention of post-breast surgery sequelae;
- Explore a possible physiotherapy service offering for individual post-breast surgery patients;
- Be able to safely and effectively assess and treat a post-breast surgery patient presenting with various after-effects of surgery or related treatments;
- Be familiar with existing physiotherapy resources related to breast cancer, and know how to refer users to the right resources when necessary.
Course Content
Target professionals
Content is not intended for use outside the scope of the learner’s license or regulation. Continuing education courses should not be taken by people who are not licensed or regulated.This does not apply when they are part of a specific plan of care. By participating in this course, the participant agrees to respect his/her professional scope of practice.
Very interesting, especially for more acute care settings. In private practice, we take over this care. There could be a section on post-op care and medium- to long-term healing for these patients.