SCAM13020U Companion Animal Oncology - Medical Oncology II

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 the medical and multimodality management of companion animal cancer patients including indications for, planning of and administration of single and multiagent chemotherapy for the most commonly treated companion animal cancers and the principles and role of radiotherapy. The mechanism of action, principles of use of cytostatic drugs as well as the administration as either single agent or multi agent protocols or as part of multimodality approaches in the treatment of the most common companion animal cancers will be part of this module.

Furthermore classification, monitoring and prevention and management of chemotherapy adverse effects according to the guidelines established by VCOG (Veterinary Comparative Oncology Group).

Each participant makes procedures for the treatment protocols used to treat the most common companion animal medical 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 and reflect about common ethical, safety, and environmental considerations in treatment with cytostatic drugs in companion animal cancer patients
• Define, identify and demonstrate overview of commonly used companion animal cancer chemotherapy protocols and multimodality approaches to therapeutic management
• List, classify, and demonstrate critical reflection on existing and new medical or combined approaches to oncology patient therapy and client education
• Demonstrate appropriate understanding regarding nutrition, nutraceuticals and supplementary therapies in veterinary cancer patients
• Be current on specific blood product transfusion-guidelines and demonstrate an understanding of hemostatic disorders in veterinary cancer patients.
• Have an in depth knowledge of cancer related pain 
• Understand the use of radiotherapy in veterinary cancer patients

Skills
• Use appropriate procedures and administration protocols for medical management and follow up of specific companion animal cancer types
• Interpret, assess and reflect on stage and grade of cancer in relation to planning of the therapeutic approach incl. which modalities, protocol and the administration of chemotherapy in individual patients
• Plan, apply and integrate new evidence based scientific approaches to plan and administer medical therapy in companion animal cancer patients, pain management, nutritional management and other supportive therapy
• Detect, assess and address adverse effects to cancer chemotherapy effectively and in a timely fashion
• Communicate effectively in writing and pass on therapeutic results to relevant parties

 Competences
• Evaluate and manage the medical therapy of companion animal cancer patients which may necessitate novel solutions and approaches identified from current medical literature or other ressources as they pertain to the individual patient
• Work independently, take responsibility for, predict, and prognosticate based on response to therapy for commonly medically treated companion animal cancers
• Collaborate constructively within and between specialists/​professionals and lay persons involved in companion animal medical cancer treatment
• Independently evaluate and structure own learning processes and continously obtain new knowledge within the medical management 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.

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
  • 30
  • 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, b) preparation and oral presentation of a problem oriented clinical case and c) a written assignment: Evidence-based procedure.
2) A graded evaluation, which focuses on the intended learning outcomes (evaluation portfolio). The graded evaluation includes an exam with multiple-choice, short answer, and/or essay questions.
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
External censorship
Exam period

Exam dates will be published on the programme  homepage.

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student shall be able to:

Knowledge

• Describe and reflect about common ethical, safety, and environmental considerations in treatment with cytostatic drugs in companion animal cancer patients
• Define, identify and demonstrate overview of commonly used companion animal cancer chemotherapy protocols and multimodality approaches to therapeutic management
• List, classify, and demonstrate critical reflection on existing and new medical or combined approaches to oncology patient therapy and client education
• Demonstrate appropriate understanding regarding nutrition, nutraceuticals and supplementary therapies in veterinary cancer patients
• Be current on specific blood product transfusion-guidelines and demonstrate an understanding of hemostatic disorders in veterinary cancer patients.
• Have an in depth knowledge of cancer related pain 
• Understand the use of radiotherapy in veterinary cancer patients

Skills

• Use appropriate procedures and administration protocols for medical management and follow up of specific companion animal cancer types
• Interpret, assess and reflect on stage and grade of cancer in relation to planning of the therapeutic approach incl. which modalities, protocol and the administration of chemotherapy in individual patients
• Plan, apply and integrate new evidence based scientific approaches to plan and administer medical therapy in companion animal cancer patients, pain management, nutritional management and other supportive therapy
• Detect, assess and address adverse effects to cancer chemotherapy effectively and in a timely fashion
• Communicate effectively in writing and pass on therapeutic results to relevant parties

 Competences

• Evaluate and manage the medical therapy of companion animal cancer patients which may necessitate novel solutions and approaches identified from current medical literature or other ressources as they pertain to the individual patient
• Work independently, take responsibility for, predict, and prognosticate based on response to therapy for commonly medically treated companion animal cancers
• Collaborate constructively within and between specialists/​professionals and lay persons involved in companion animal medical cancer treatment
• Independently evaluate and structure own learning processes and continously obtain new knowledge within the medical management of companion animal cancer patients