COURSE DIRECTOR

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

TEACHERS

Marianne Aznar, Medical Physicist, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust & University of Manchester (UK)

David Dodwell, Clinical Oncologist, Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit, Oxford (UK)

Sandra Hol, Radiation Therapist (RTT), Institute Verbeeten, Tilburg (NL)

Orit Kaidar-Person, Radiation Oncologist, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv (IL)

Thorsten Kühn, Gynaecologist, Breast Cancer, Klinikum Esslingen, Esslingen (DE)

Lynda Wyld (UK), Surgeon, University of Sheffield, School of Health, Sheffield (UK)

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.

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.

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.

Membership

ESTRO members can order products at substantially reduced prices. To benefit from the member registration rate, you must subscribe for the ESTRO membership 2025 BEFORE registering to the course. To become an ESTRO member, benefit from the member registration rate and discover the many other member advantages, please visit the membership page.

Fees

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

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

Advance registration & payment are required.

Access to homework and/or course material will become available upon receipt of full payment.

Insurance and cancellation

Participants are strongly advised to take out their own personal insurance policy. ESTRO does not accept liability for individual medical, travel or personal accidents or incidents. Participants are strongly advised to take insurance policies to cover flight and accommodation cancellation penalties. ESTRO will not refund any travel or accommodation expenses.

For any cancellation made by the course or workshop participant, ESTRO School Events Cancellation Policy will be followed and all stated penalty fees will be applied.

Reduced fees

Members from emerging countries may register at a preferential rate of 350 Euro. Emerging country fee applies to individuals from low-income and lower-middle-income economies according to the World Bank listing here.

Additionally, all specialties from the following countries can benefit from this preferential rate: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine. 

The preferential rate of 350 Euro is granted automatically when you click on the  BOOK NOW  button and the three conditions below are met:

1. Only ESTRO members for 2025 are eligible (please make sure your 2025 membership is in order before you click on the BOOK NOW  button)
2. Only one course per person per year can be subsidized by ESTRO
3. 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

Membership

ESTRO members can order products at substantially reduced prices. To benefit from the member registration rate, you must subscribe for the ESTRO membership 2025 BEFORE registering to the course. To become an ESTRO member, benefit from the member registration rate and discover the many other member advantages, please visit the membership page.

Fees

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

The early online rate is applied until 2 months before the start of the course.

Late online rates are applied as of 2 months before the start of the course

Advance registration & payment are required.              

Registration will close on the date published on the front page of the course.

Cancellation

A registration to the online workshop may be cancelled without any fees before pre-online course material is sent out. Pre-online course material is sent out a few days before the first workshop lesson. After the pre-online course material is sent out, no refund of the registration fee is possible.

Reduced fees

Members from emerging countries may register at a preferential rate of 350 Euro. Emerging country fee applies to individuals from low-income and lower-middle-income economies according to the World Bank listing here.

Additionally, all specialties from the following countries can benefit from this preferential rate: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine.  

The preferential rate of 350 Euro is granted automatically when you click on the BOOK NOW button and the three conditions below are met:

1. Only ESTRO members for 2025 are eligible (please make sure your 2025 membership is in order before you click on the BOOK NOW button)
2. Only one course per person per year can be subsidized by ESTRO
3. 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
  • 2 months before the start of the course for online attendance