Breast Cancer

Course Overview
Healthcare professionals caring for patients with breast cancer throughout the disease trajectory should offer support and provide guidance. Providing quality care to transition women and men from the initial diagnosis of breast cancer through the diagnostic process, surgery, and subsequent treatments is the responsibility of the entire healthcare team. This course will outline the many issues faced in the screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of breast cancer.

Learning Outcomes 
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Outline the incidence and epidemiology of breast cancer.
• Discuss the risk factors for breast cancer, identifying which factors are nonmodifiable versus modifiable.
• Review hereditary breast cancers with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations and inherited syndromes.
• Outline the models used to determine these risks.
• Review the anatomy and physiology of normal breast development and the lymphatic system.
• Identify screening recommendations for the early detection of breast cancer.
• Identify the pathology of benign and malignant breast tumors.
• Discuss the diagnostic work-up, incorporating the physical examination, imaging, biopsy, and pertinent family history.
• Analyze the various classifications of breast cancer according to pathology and extent of tissue involvement.
• Review the staging and grading systems for breast cancers.
• Analyze surgical options and interventions as primary treatment, including reconstruction and prostheses.
• Discuss lymphedema and measures to avoid this chronic morbidity.
• Describe the role of radiation therapy and potential side effects.
• Evaluate endocrine therapy for the treatment of estrogen- and progesterone-receptor positive breast cancer.
• Review available systemic chemotherapy for breast cancer.
• Summarize male breast cancer, outlining risk factors differing to those identified in women.
   

About the Author/Presenter 
Jacqueline Houtman, RN, MA, CDP, graduated with an Associate's degree from the Eastbourne School of Nursing in England in 1971. In 2000, she graduated with a Master's degree in Applied Social Science from Binghamton University, Upstate New York. During the course of her nursing career, Ms. Houtman has held various positions in the acute care hospital setting, including medical, surgical, orthopedic, ophthalmic, and intensive care units, incorporating five years of case management.

Audience/Accreditations and Approvals 
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE 
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Nursing

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