Multidisciplinary management of breast cancer

The course is primarily intended for specialists and trainees in the field of radiation and clinical oncology, including doctors, physicists, radiation therapists, breast nurses, researchers and others, who are interested in extending their knowledge of the management of breast cancer. Other specialists active in the field of breast cancer and interested in an updated view of the possibilities of modern radiation oncology are encouraged to participate as well.

Background

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy amongst women. The backbone of optimal breast cancer care is multidisciplinary management involving several different health care professionals. Over recent decades, we have witnessed several changes in our understanding of the complex interactions between loco-regional and systemic treatments. Currently, much attention is being paid towards optimising the use of loco-regional treatments, less when possible and more if needed, with a move towards progressively less extensive surgical approach.

The challenge to integrate all treatments for every single patient requires the optimal cooperation between all specialities. Against this background, radiation and clinical oncologists continue further fine-tuning of the technical aspects of the delivery of radiation therapy, starting from optimal target volume definition. This underlines the importance of an optimal collaboration with imaging specialists, surgeons and pathologists,

Course director

Philip Poortmans, Radiation Oncologist, Iridum Netwerk & University of Antwerp (BE)

Teachers

Birgitte Offersen, Clinical Oncologist, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus (DK)
David Dodwell, Clinical Oncologist, Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit, Oxford (UK)
Liesbeth Boersma, Radiation Oncologist, Maastricht University Medical Center, Dept Radiotherapy (Maastro), Maastricht (NL)
Lynda Wyld, Surgeon, Sheffield Hallam University, School of Health, Sheffield (UK)
Marianne Aznar, Medical Physicist, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust & University of Manchester (UK)
Orit Kaidar-Person, Radiation Oncologist, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv (IL)
Sandra Hol, Radiation Therapist (RTT), Institute Verbeeten, Tilburg (NL)
Thorsten Kühn, Gynaecologist, Breast Cancer, Klinikum Esslingen, Esslingen (DE)

This multidisciplinary course aims to promote an integrated approach to the management of breast cancer. The goal is to individualise treatment based on clinical presentation, prognostic (tumour) factors and patient-related factors respecting the need for shared decision-making.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course participants should be able to:

Appreciate the epidemiology of breast cancer
Understand the clinical and biological aspects of breast cancer
Have a firm knowledge of the different prognostic and predictive factors and tumour sub-types
Interpret the literature on the results of multimodality treatment of breast cancer
Discuss with (multidisciplinary) colleagues the balance between benefits and side effects of various treatment options for breast cancer, accounting for prognostic factors and patient-related characteristics
Apply the guidelines for volume delineation of all target volumes for breast cancer
Know how to select and use the possible technical solutions for optimal radiation therapy for breast cancer
Recognise the fields of uncertainty and where further research is required.

Course Content

Epidemiology: lessons from the past, challenges in the future
The clinically relevant aspects of the biology of breast cancer
Primary surgery: choices and techniques (including oncoplastic)
Axillary surgery including limitations of the SN concept
Modern radiation therapy techniques from treatment planning to image guidance
Re-irradiation
Fractionation schedules: from 33 to 5!
Emerging technique including particle therapy
Systemic treatment: interactions with radiation therapy, primary versus adjuvant
Treatment of DCIS
Treatment possibilities for locally advanced disease
Summary on (accelerated) partial breast irradiation
Role of advanced treatment techniques including IMRT and breathing control
Lessons from meta-analyses of clinical trials
Cosmetic outcome after BCT
Long-term side-effects
Reconstructive surgery
Current clinical trials
Target volume delineation including homework and workshops
Patient management workshops.

Prerequisites

Before commencing this course participants should:

Have at least basic experience with all aspects of radiation therapy for breast cancer patients. If you are not a radiation/clinical oncologist (in training) you should be involved in the interdisciplinary and/or multidisciplinary case discussions and perform work related to treating breast cancer patients
Read some of the most recent articles in the literature concerning multidisciplinary and radiation oncology aspects in breast cancer
Have completed an exercise beforehand on target volume delineation in breast cancer.

Teaching Methods

Lectures
Debates
Practical workshops
Clinical case discussions
Meet the professor session.

The course will be very interactive through the integration of lectures, target volume delineation (prepared as homework in the framework of blended learning), guidance in treatment planning and patient management workshops. Focused on the multidisciplinary approach, the programme will outline the different treatments for breast cancer from evidence based medicine to ongoing research.

Methods of Assessment

MCQ
Evaluation form.

Programme

The scientific programme is available here

Key Words

Breast cancer, radiation therapy, multidisciplinary, breast conserving therapy, (A)PBI, clinical trials, volume delineation, side effects, quality of life.

Accreditation

Application for CME recognition will be submitted to the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME), an institution of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). EACCME credits are recognised by the American Medical Association towards the Physician’s Recognition Award (PRA). Information on the status of the applications can be obtained from the ESTRO office.

Venue

DoubleTree by Hilton Brussels City

Rue Gineste 3,

Brussels, 1210,

Belgium

Membership

ESTRO members can order products at substantially reduced prices. Please note that in order to benefit from the member price, you must renew your membership for 2021 before registering to the course.To benefit from these member rates, please visit the membership page to become a member or renew your membership BEFORE proceeding with your order.

Fees

	Early rate	Late rate
In-training members*	500 EUR	675 EUR
Members	650 EUR	775 EUR
Non Members	800 EUR	900 EUR

* Members with specialty RadiationTherapist (RTT) may register at the In Training fee

Early rates are applied up to three months before the starting date of the course.

Late rates are applied three months before the starting date of the course.

The fee includes the course material, coffees, lunches, and the social event.

Advance registration & payment are required.

Since the number of participants is limited, late registrants are advised to contact the ESTRO office before payment, to inquire about availability of places. Access to homework and/or course material will become available upon receipt of full payment.

Insurance and cancellation

Cancellation policy related to COVID-19: If you are unable to attend the course due to the COVID-19 emergency, you are entitled to receive a full refund of your registration fee minus 15% handling charges. This policy applies to the following cases:

You have contracted coronavirus (please provide us with a medical certificate)
Travel restrictions have been put in place against your country by the country where the course is held
Timeline for cancellation : 3 days before the course

In case the course might be cancelled by ESTRO, you will receive full refund of the paid registration fee.

The organiser does not accept liability for individual medical, travel or personal insurance. Participants are strongly advised to take out their own personal insurance policies. ESTRO will not be responsible for the refund of travel and accommodation costs.

Reduced fees

ESTRO members from economically challenged countries may register at a preferential rate of 350 Euro if three conditions are met:

Only ESTRO members for 2021 are eligible (please make sure your 2021 membership is in order before you apply for the reduced fees)
Only one course per person per year can be subsidized by ESTRO
Sponsored candidates are not entitled to reduced fees (the invoicing address has to be the one of the participant)

Please note:

We can only guarantee a certain number of reduced fees per course
Application deadlines are the same as early registration fees (3 months before the course date).