The Applied Sciences of Oncology (ASO) distance-learning course

The ASO is a distance-learning course which provides the learner with an introduction to the applied sciences of oncology. It is not intended to replace textbooks. It is designed to supplement textbooks with practical information and examples, and to give an overview of knowledge not easily gained from any one textbook.

The course will help students prepare for Part I (theory) specialist or board examinations. It has been produced for the IAEA to provide cancer education for doctors and other radiotherapy professionals in countries where there is little currently available. The course covers eight subject areas: [1] Communication, [2] Critical appraisal, [3] Functional anatomy, [4] Molecular biology, pathology and pathogenesis, [5] General patient care, [6] The physics of radiation technology, [7] Radiation biology, and [8] Systemic therapy for cancer. Within each subject there are a number of individual modules that should each take about one hour to complete. The materials include interactive text and illustrations that require students to answer questions before they can progress.

Hilfe für Kurse suchen

Communication

This course is part of The Applied Sciences of Oncology (ASO) distance-learning course.

Aim

To provide an overview of principles and methods in communication with patients, with colleagues, and communication in different cultural settings.

Objectives

Upon completion, participants should be able to:

  • Describe the steps in Breaking Bad News
  • Discuss the principles in communicating with patients
  • Discuss communication issues in different cultural settings 
  • Describe principles of informed consent
  • Discuss issues with burnout & coping with patient death and dying
RESPONSIBLE_PERSON: Sandra Ndarukwa (s.ndarukwa@iaea.org)

Critical Appraisal

This course is part of The Applied Sciences of Oncology (ASO) distance-learning course.

Aim

To provide an understanding of statistical methodology sufficient for oncologists to critically appraise the medical literature

Objectives

Upon completion, participants should be able to:

  • Discuss the variation in incidence of cancer sites and the implications for cancer control.
  • Perform simple and effective searches of the medical literature to identify relevant studies.
  • Discuss distinctions between various types of clinical studies.
  • Discuss when various types of study are appropriate and their strengths and limitations.
  • Describe the basis of Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival.
  • Describe the range of clinical end-points in studies of treatment activity and efficacy.
  • Discuss the role of meta-analysis in providing evidence for medical decision making.
  • Be able to apply the techniques of clinical decision analysis.
  • Explain the way prognostic factors are derived & their impact on patient outcomes.
RESPONSIBLE_PERSON: Sandra Ndarukwa (s.ndarukwa@iaea.org)

Functional Anatomy

This course is part of The Applied Sciences of Oncology (ASO) distance-learning course.

Aim

To provide a practical understanding of applied anatomy relevant to the delivery of radiotherapy in the treatment of cancer.

Objectives

Upon completion, participants should be able to:

  • Describe the anatomical implications of cancer spread.
  • Discuss 3D relationships of organs and their surrounding structures.
  • Identify tissues and organs at risk from either cancer spread or treatment delivery.
  • Demonstrate key concepts in radiological and cross sectional anatomy with reference to oncology.
RESPONSIBLE_PERSON: Sandra Ndarukwa (s.ndarukwa@iaea.org)

Molecular biology, pathology & pathogenesis

This course is part of The Applied Sciences of Oncology (ASO) distance-learning course.

Aim: 

To provide an understanding of the basic molecular biology and pathogenesis of malignancies.

Objectives

Upon completion, participants should be able to:

  • Describe genetic basis of malignancy.
  • Discuss genetic models for pathogenesis of colorectal and breast cancer
  • Discuss the role of pathology and molecular pathology in cancer diagnosis and treatment
  • Discuss prevalence and epidemiology of oncogenic infectious agents and their associated malignancies
  • Discuss rare genetic susceptibility to malignancy
RESPONSIBLE_PERSON: Sandra Ndarukwa (s.ndarukwa@iaea.org)

Patient Care

This course is part of The Applied Sciences of Oncology (ASO) distance-learning course.

Aim

To provide an understanding of (1) the assessment and management of cancer pain and (2) the principles of palliative care, so that the oncologist can improve the quality of life of her/his patients, especially those with incurable progressive disease.

Objectives

Upon completion, participants should be able to:

  • Discuss the pathophysiology of cancer pain.
  • Assess the cancer pain properly through careful history taking, focused clinical exam, appropriate investigations and evaluation of psychosocial issues.
  • Initiate appropriate pharmacological treatment.
  • Discuss options for patients in whom initial therapy provides incomplete analgesia or unacceptable side effects, or who has escalating uncontrolled pain..
  • Assess and initiate treatment of other symptoms that are common in patients with advanced cancer.
  • Appreciate that symptom control and quality of life issues can be addressed concomitant with the delivery of therapies aimed at controlling disease.
  • Discuss differences in clinical decision making between patients with advanced incurable cancer and those with early stage, curable disease.
  • Appreciate the importance of psychosocial support of the patient and family, and bereavement issues.
  • Explain prognosis for patients with advanced cancer.
  • Describe how to care for the patient in whom death is imminent.
RESPONSIBLE_PERSON: Sandra Ndarukwa (s.ndarukwa@iaea.org)

Physics & radiation technology

This course is part of The Applied Sciences of Oncology (ASO) distance-learning course.

Aim: 

To equip the learner with the knowledge necessary to understand the delivery techniques and dose distributions in patients required to deliver modern radiotherapy.

Objectives

Upon completion, participants should be able to:

  • Describe the physics underlying radiotherapy treatment delivery
  • Describe interaction of radiation with matter
  • Describe principles of measurement of radiation dose
  • Describe key concepts of delivery techniques in modern radiotherapy
RESPONSIBLE_PERSON: Sandra Ndarukwa (s.ndarukwa@iaea.org)

Radiobiology

This course is part of The Applied Sciences of Oncology (ASO) distance-learning course.

Aim: 

To provide an understanding of the radiobiological principles that affect the results of clinical radiotherapy.

Objectives

Upon completion, participants should be able to:

  • Describe clinical relevance of radiobiology.
  • Discuss acute and late effects of ionising radiation in a range of organs and tissue types
  • Discuss late effects of radiotherapy
  • Discuss the effect of time and fraction size on tumor and normal tissue
  • Discuss radiobiological aspects of brachytherapy
  • Discuss biological effects of radiotherapy at a cellular and molecular level
  • Discuss interactions between radiotherapy and chemotherapy at a molecular level.
RESPONSIBLE_PERSON: Sandra Ndarukwa (s.ndarukwa@iaea.org)

Systemic Therapy for Cancer

This course is part of The Applied Sciences of Oncology (ASO) distance-learning course.

Aim

To provide an introduction to anticancer drugs and their effects.

Objectives

  • Describe principles of systemic therapy with cytotoxics, endocrine agents,   immunotherapies and drugs acting on growth factor pathways.
  • Describe mechanisms of action, clinical indications, toxicities, interactions of major classes of anticancer drugs
  • Explain principles of safe and effective administration of anticancer drugs
  • Discuss the nature, management and prevention of acute and chronic side effects.
  • Describe the rationale and methods of pre-clinical drug development
RESPONSIBLE_PERSON: Sandra Ndarukwa (s.ndarukwa@iaea.org)