Cancer Care

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

170 hours per 12.5 credit point subject

To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted in the Graduate Certificate in Cancer Sciences (GC-CANCRSC) . This subject is not available for students admitted in any other courses.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Overview, Objectives and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this course are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Student Equity and Disability Support Team: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The subject will address the modern clinical management of patients with cancer. The management of the whole patient journey from screening and diagnosis, through treatment, psycho-oncology assessment and support, to follow up, survivorship, and palliative care, will be covered. Principles of treatment and treatment modalities will be considered across the full spectrum of cancers, with case studies applied to specific tumour types used to explore generic principles of cancer care.

The Cancer Care subject aims to examine the benefits and limitations of various treatment modalities available for patients with cancer. Case studies will be used to integrate this information to understand and evaluate the modern era of integrated cancer care and the role of multi-disciplinary team-based patient management. The subject aims to provide breadth of knowledge and perspective with regards to cancer treatment, outside of each individual’s clinical specialty, and beyond the clinical manifestation of the disease.

At the completion of this subject, student should demonstrate:

• An understanding of the various disciplines involved in cancer care, and the context in which their professional experience is placed.
• How evidence-based care is applied in clinical settings
• the psycho-social context of cancer
• the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary approach to cancer care.
• the World Health Organization (WHO) principles and benefits of cancer screening
• Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate and compare various cancer diagnostic methods
• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and compare cancer staging methods in light of new imaging technology
• Demonstrate the ability to integrate the principles of surgical, medical, radiation and psycho-social approaches in management of cancer care
• Demonstrate the ability to compare and contrast uni-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary care approaches for a number of cancer types
• Apply the principles of screening to a number of cancer types
• Demonstrate the ability to identify the psycho-social impact of cancer above and beyond the physical manifestation of the disease
• Demonstrate communication skills that can be applied to patients and carers with a cancer diagnosis
• Demonstrate the ability to provide an evidence-based argument for multi-disciplinary therapeutic and well-developed judgement in the management of various cancer types

1. Assignment on screening (1000 words) - 30%
2. Integrated Therapy assignment (1500 words) - 30%
3. Participation in Psycho-oncology Communication Skills training - hurdle requirement
4. Case study Assignment (1500 words) - 30%
5. Case Study Team presentation (Group format, 1000 word equivalent) - 10%

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.