SCAM13019U Companion Animal Oncology - Medical Oncology I

Volume 2024/2025
Education

This course is a specialisation course at the Master of Companion Animal Clinical Science. The master is a post graduate education targeted small animal veterinarians seeking Continual Professional Development (CPD).

Content

The purpose of this course is to provide experience and expertise in diagnostic work up including staging and grading of the oncology patient, the use of diagnostic tools including biopsy principles and staging and grading of the most common companion animal cancers.

Each participant makes diagnostic procedures for staging and grading of oncology patients for their own practice.
 

Read more about the Master of Companion Animal Science.

Learning Outcome

Having completed the course, the student must be able to:
 
Knowledge
• Describe common ethical considerations in companion animal cancer patients
• Define and describe the safety procedures regarding use of cancer chemotherapy drugs according to Danish law
• Explain and demonstrate overview of carcinogenesis
• Define, identify and demonstrate overview of diagnostic methodology and paraclinical tools used in the diagnostic work up incl. biopsy principles of the companion animal oncologic patient
• Explain, reflect about and demonstrate overview of staging and grading of the companion animal cancer patient
• List and classify the staging and grading of common companion animal cancers
• List, classify, and demonstrate critical reflection on existing and new approaches to patient diagnosis and client education
• Demonstrate an overview of the veterinary use of chemotherapy

Skills
• Use appropriate diagnostics for staging and grading of specific companion animal cancer types according to WHO staging criteria
• Interpret, assess and reflect on collected patient data in order to stage and grade and make clinical decisions, arrive at a diagnosis and apply and integrate evidence based scientific approaches to plan and administer further diagnostics and suggest therapeutic management in companion animal cancer patients
• Continously seek out, reflect on and apply new evidence based diagnostic methods and biomarkers in companion animal cancer patients
• Apply and integrate appropriate safety procedures in relation to the use of chemotherapy
• Communicate and discuss ethical and academic issues with both peers and non-specialists at an advanced level
• Communicate effectively in writing and pass on results to relevant parties

 Competences
• Evaluate and manage the staging and grading of companion animal cancer patients which may necessitate novel solutions and approaches identified from current medical literature or other ressources
• Work independently, take responsibility for, predict, prognosticate based on staging and grading for commonly treated companion animal cancers
• Collaborate constructively within and between specialists/​professionals and lay persons involved in companion animal cancer patient management 
• Make ethic considerations regarding diagnostic methods and medical therapy in companion animal cancer patients
• Independently evaluate and structure own learning processes and continously obtain new knowledge within the diagnostic work up of companion animal cancer patients

Literature

Updated literature list will be posted 1 month prior to course start. The participant should have theoretical knowledge updated prior to participation.

Inclusion criteria for Master's Programme in Companion Animal Clinical Science: Degree in veterinary medicine and at least two years of relevant work experience.

SCAM13001U, SCAM13002U, SCAM13003U, SCAM13004U or one of the following certifications in Companion Animal Diseases:
• DVA in Small Animal Diseases, in Danish known as “certificeret fagdyrlæge i sygdomme hos hunde og katte”
• Swedish specialist in diseases of dogs and cats, in Swedish known as Steg 1
• Norwegian specialist in diseases of dogs and cats, in Norwegian known as Specialisering i veterinærmedisin, spesialitet smådyr
• Finnish specialist in diseases of dogs and cats, in Finnish known as Pieneläinsairauksien erikoiseläinlääkäri
Lectures, Theoretical and practical exercises. Case studies.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 10
  • Preparation
  • 72
  • Theory exercises
  • 20
  • Practical exercises
  • 10
  • Exam
  • 50
  • Total
  • 162
Oral
Individual
Collective
Credit
6 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Type of assessment details
The portfolio exam consists of two parts.
1) The course certificate, which supports, underpins, and focuses on the learning process (learning portfolio). All required components of the course certificate must be approved and include a) a minimum of 80% active participation and b) preparation and oral presentation of a problem oriented clinical case.
2) A graded evaluation, which focuses on the intended learning outcomes (evaluation portfolio). The graded evaluation includes a) an on-site steeplechase test (weighted 60% of the final grade) and b) a critical mini-review (weighted 40% of the final grade).
Exam registration requirements

80 % active participation in the on site course activities are required in order to obtain approved course certificate. Both, approved course certificate and a passed examination are required to pass the course. Students may attend examination without approval of course certificate.

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner
Exam period

Exam dates will be published on the programme  homepage.

Re-exam

Re-examination will focus on the themes that have not been passed.

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student shall be able to:
 
Knowledge
• Describe common ethical considerations in companion animal cancer patients
• Define and describe the safety procedures regarding use of cancer chemotherapy drugs according to Danish law
• Explain and demonstrate overview of carcinogenesis
• Define, identify and demonstrate overview of diagnostic methodology and paraclinical tools used in the diagnostic work up incl. biopsy principles of the companion animal oncologic patient
• Explain, reflect about and demonstrate overview of staging and grading of the companion animal cancer patient
• List and classify the staging and grading of common companion animal cancers
• List, classify, and demonstrate critical reflection on existing and new approaches to patient diagnosis and client education
• Demonstrate an overview of the veterinary use of chemotherapy

Skills
• Use appropriate diagnostics for staging and grading of specific companion animal cancer types according to WHO staging criteria
• Interpret, assess and reflect on collected patient data in order to stage and grade and make clinical decisions, arrive at a diagnosis and apply and integrate evidence based scientific approaches to plan and administer further diagnostics and suggest therapeutic management in companion animal cancer patients
• Continously seek out, reflect on and apply new evidence based diagnostic methods and biomarkers in companion animal cancer patients
• Apply and integrate appropriate safety procedures in relation to the use of chemotherapy
• Communicate and discuss ethical and academic issues with both peers and non-specialists at an advanced level
• Communicate effectively in writing and pass on results to relevant parties

 Competences
• Evaluate and manage the staging and grading of companion animal cancer patients which may necessitate novel solutions and approaches identified from current medical literature or other ressources
• Work independently, take responsibility for, predict, prognosticate based on staging and grading for commonly treated companion animal cancers
• Collaborate constructively within and between specialists/​professionals and lay persons involved in companion animal cancer patient management 
• Make ethic considerations regarding diagnostic methods and medical therapy in companion animal cancer patients
• Independently evaluate and structure own learning processes and continously obtain new knowledge within the diagnostic work up of companion animal cancer patients