Breast Cancer Rehabilitation
Breast Cancer Rehabilitation
This course includes
The instructors
Overview
Breast cancer is the most prevailing cancer among women and is currently the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. With the incredible advances seen in breast cancer management, survivorship has increased, leading to over 70% of women being left with an impairment that can be prevented and treated by rehabilitation professionals.
This live online course is designed to equip healthcare professionals, especially physical therapists and occupational therapists, with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide comprehensive and evidence-based care for individuals affected by breast cancer, contributing to their overall well-being and recovery. As survivorship is a unique and complex journey, physical and occupational therapists play a crucial role in supporting individuals during this phase.
Participants will gain a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by breast cancer survivors, the complexities of rehabilitation during cancer treatment, and the role of physical and occupational therapy in optimizing their functional outcomes and quality of life.
Additionally, the course is designed to provide the groundwork to begin developing skills in breast cancer rehabilitative care.
Drawing attention to biopsychosocial and person-centered care, this course will teach evidence-based rehabilitation techniques through all stages of treatment including chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and endocrine therapies. Rehabilitation professionals will learn to focus on all aspects of the person’s life to engage and empower patients in their recovery.
Special focus will be on the practical components of assessment and soft tissue manipulation techniques, along with how to provide an appropriate therapeutic home exercise program by working with the patient’s individual needs and meaningful goals.
By the end of this course, participants will possess the knowledge and practical skills necessary to deliver proficient and empathetic physical and occupational therapy care for individuals grappling with breast cancer. The curriculum adopts an evidence-based and patient-centred approach, highlighting the importance of shared decision-making to enhance their holistic well-being and facilitate a successful recovery.
Restoring health during cancer treatment is more than just removing disease. The evidence is overwhelming that cancer rehabilitation is a critical part of the cancer care pathway and rehabilitation professionals are well positioned to provide the personalized care people need and want and deserve. I welcome you to embark on this journey with me by taking a deeper dive into the principles of oncology rehabilitation in individuals affected by breast cancer.
Course Objectives
In this online course, we will:
- Review the incidence, etiology and risk factors for breast cancer.
- Identify the various types of breast cancers, methods of diagnosis and staging.
- Recognize the various forms of treatments used for breast cancer including:
- Understand the various surgical techniques used in managing breast cancer including reconstruction procedures.
- Identify the common sequelae related to chemotherapy and radiotherapy (i.e., cardiotoxicity, cancer-related fatigue, radiation fibrosis, lymphedema).
- Review the long-term implications of hormone therapy (i.e. osteoporosis, joint arthralgia, vaginal dryness).
- Get an overview of current evidence-based knowledge and clinical expertise related to breast cancer rehabilitation and exercise.
- Understand the roadmap of rehabilitation before, during and post-cancer treatment.
- Identify and treat common musculoskeletal impairments including postural, shoulder and scapular dysfunction, scarring and soft tissue dysfunctions, axillary web syndrome and radiation fibrosis.
- Learn an evidence-based approach to lymphedema management.
- Identify the general benefits of exercise for breast cancer patients.
- Safely design an appropriate oncology rehab program plan derived from evidence-based guidelines and clinical screening tools presented in the course.
Audience
This on-demand online course is for all regulated healthcare professionals including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses and massage therapists.
Prerequisites: None
What's Included
This course was recorded during a 2-day live online course. The course is broken down by module and, along with the video lectures of each module, you will also have access to:
- Extensive downloadable resources including slides, patient handouts, reference lists, and case studies
- 1 month access to the course
- A certificate of completion for your professional portfolio
The instructors
MSc, PT, CDT (CS), CLT-LANA, Clinical Specialist- Oncology
Marize graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Kinesiology and Physical Education and attained a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from McGill University. Marize is a member of both the Professional Order of Physiotherapy of Quebec (OPPQ) and the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA). She is also an Oncology division member of the CPA and attained the designation of Clinical Specialist Oncology by the Physiotherapy Specialty Certification Board of Canada in 2020.
Marize’s continued engagement in oncology rehabilitation-related research demonstrates her professional leadership and commitment to advancing the science and practice of physical therapy. She has been actively involved in the advancement and dissemination of knowledge through publications in peer-reviewed journals such as Current Oncology, The Journal of Community and Supportive Oncology, Journal of Cancer Survivorship, Clinical Breast Cancer, International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Clinical Oncology, and Rehabilitation Process and Outcome. As a co-principal investigator and clinical supervisor at McGill University, she participated in developing an evidence-based educational resource tool to help minimize fractures in patients with bone metastasis using a patient-education resources education booklet.
She is also a co-coordinator of the Oncology Rehabilitation course offered through the School of Physical and Occupation Therapy at McGill University and has taught continuing education courses to licensed physical therapists (through the OPPQ and CPA). She has presented at national (i.e., Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto) and international (i.e., India) conferences in different capacities, but primarily as an Invited Guest Speaker.
Marize is also a licensed Casley-Smith Lymphedema Therapist and a certified Lymphedema therapist with the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA). She is working at the McGill University Hospital Center Lymphedema Clinic with the well renowned Dr. Towers and her multidisciplinary team. She is Bone Fit Trained Specialist through Osteoporosis Canada and has specialized training in posture and movement system imbalance. In her spare time, Marize is a Canadian National Paralympic Medical Swimming Classifier who volunteers with an incredible and inspiring group of Canadian para-swimming athletes across the country, and currently working towards becoming an International Classifier with the ultimate goal of attending the Paralympic Games.
Material included in this course
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Course Resources
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Welcome and downloadable resources
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Introduction to Breast Cancer Rehabilitation
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Module 1
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Module 1: Breast Cancer Itiology, Diagnosis, Terms and Staging
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Module 2
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Module 2: Breast Cancer Treatment & Side Effects
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Module 3
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Module 3: Breast Cancer Reconstruction
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Module 4
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Module 4: Section 1 - Breast Cancer Rehabilitation & Chemotherapy
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Module 4: Section 2 - Breast Cancer Rehabilitation & Surgery
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Module 4: Section 3 - Breast Cancer Rehabilitation & Radiotherapy
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Module 4: Section 4 - Breast Cancer Rehabilitation & Lymphedema
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Module 4: Section 5 - Breast Cancer Rehabilitation & Bone Health
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Module 4: Section 6 - Breast Cancer Rehabilitation & Survivorship
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Module 5
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Module 5: Case Studies
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