Participants who register for this course have the option to attend the course live and/or watch the recorded sessions later. The recording will be available to all registrants for a 2-week period after the course/each session. This allows participants who may not be able to attend the live sessions to still benefit from the course content. Please note - if you do not attend live, there will be approximately 10 minutes of images shown which will not be recorded for privacy reasons.

To facilitate attendance tracking, please indicate on your registration form if you won't be attending live.

Course Description:

Breast cancer is the most prevailing cancer among women and currently the most common diagnosed cancer worldwide. With the incredible advances seen in breast cancer management, survivorship has increased, leading to over 70% of women will be left with an impairment that can be prevented and treated by rehabilitation professionals.

This course is designed to equip healthcare professionals especially physical therapists, with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide comprehensive and evidence-based care for individuals affected by breast cancer, contributing to their overall well-being and recovery. As survivorship is a unique and complex journey, physical therapists play a crucial role in supporting individuals during this phase. Participants will gain a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by breast cancer survivors, the complexities of rehabilitation during cancer treatment and the role of physical therapy in optimizing their functional outcomes and quality of life.

Additionally, the course is designed to provide the groundwork to begin developing skills in breast cancer rehabilitative care. Drawing attention to biopsychosocial and person-centered care, this course will teach evidence-based rehabilitation techniques through all stages of treatment including chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and endocrine therapies. Rehabilitation professionals will learn to focus on all aspects of the person’s life to engage and empower patients in their recovery. Special focus will be on the practical components of assessment, soft tissue manipulation techniques along with a how to provide an appropriate therapeutic home exercise program by working with the patient’s individuals needs and meaningful goals.

By the end of this course, participants will possess the knowledge and practical skills necessary to deliver proficient and empathetic physical therapy care for individuals grappling with breast cancer. The curriculum adopts an evidence-based and patient-centered approach, highlighting the importance of shared decision-making to enhance their holistic well-being and facilitate a successful recovery.

Restoring health during cancer treatment is more than just removing disease. The evidence is overwhelming that cancer rehabilitation is a critical part of the cancer care pathway and rehabilitation professionals are well positioned to provide the personalized care people need and want and deserve. I welcome you to embark on this journey with me by taking a deeper dive at the principles of oncology rehabilitation in individuals affected by breast cancer.

Course Objectives:

• Review the incidence, etiology and risk factors for breast cancer
• Identify the various types of breast cancers, methods of diagnosis and staging
• Recognize the various forms of treatments used for breast cancer including:
• Understanding the various surgical techniques used in managing breast cancer including reconstruction procedures
• Identifying the common sequelae related to chemotherapy and radiotherapy (i.e. cardiotoxicity, cancer related fatigue, radiation fibrosis, lymphedema)
• Review the long-term implications of hormone therapy (i.e. osteoporosis, joint arthralgia, vaginal dryness)
• Overview of current evidence-based knowledge and clinical expertise related to breast cancer rehabilitation and exercise
• Understand the roadmap of rehabilitation before, during and post-cancer treatment
• Identify and treat for common musculoskeletal impairments including postural, shoulder and scapular dysfunction, scarring and soft tissue dysfunctions, axillary web syndrome and radiation fibrosis
• Evidence-based approach to lymphedema management
• Identify the general benefits of exercise for breast cancer patients
• Safely design an appropriate oncology rehab program plan derived from evidence-based guidelines and clinical and screening tools presented in course

Audience: All regulated healthcare professionals including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses and massage therapists.

Prerequisites: None

Registration Form

Breast Cancer Rehab November 2024

Schedule

Date/Time: November 30-December 1, 2024, from 10:30am-6:30pm ET (Toronto). Please convert to your local time zone. 

Instructor

Marize Ibrahim

Marize Ibrahim is a physiotherapist and a licensed lymphedema therapist with the Lymphology Association of North America. She works at the McGill University Hospital Centre Lymphedema Clinic, a Lymphatic Education and Research (LE&RN) Network of Excellence. Marize attended the University of Toronto and later pursued a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from McGill University. In 2020, the Physiotherapy Specialty Certification Board of Canada granted her the designation of Clinical Specialist in Oncology.

To date, she has published numerous peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, has been invited as a guest speaking at several national and international conferences (including India) and is currently a guest lecturer at the McGill University School of Physical & Occupational Therapy since 2012.

In her spare time, she volunteers as a Canadian National Paralympic Medical Swimming Classifier working with an incredible and inspiring group of Canadian para-swimming athletes across the country, and currently working towards becoming an International Classifier with the ultimate goal of attending the Paralympic Games.

Delivery Format

Live attendance is not mandatory for this online course. Enjoy a 2-week window to access and review the course recording, which is sent out on the next business day. Please note - if you do not attend live, there will be approximately 10 minutes of images shown which will not be recorded for privacy reasons. We understand that life can be busy, which is why we offer you the freedom to access the course recording(s) during the time-limited viewing period.

What people are saying

Being a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist goes beyond the pelvis. Taking the Breast Cancer Rehabilitation course allowed me to become a more well-rounded Women’s Health Therapist. Tania provided an excellent, informative course. She delivered the information in such a clear and organized way, that I felt I could go back to the clinic and put it into practice immediately. I came away with a better understanding of the disease itself, all of its effects, side effects, and the process of treatment. You will not regret signing up, and you’ll look forward to helping so many more women in their survivorship!

– Celeste B

Thank you Pelvic Health Solutions for adding this much-needed topic to your already dynamic list of courses. I signed up for this course with the eagerness to help those in need but I was lacking the knowledge. I left this course feeling confident, well-educated, and ready to treat women with breast cancer. Tania was amazing! Her knowledge and passion for helping women through various stages of their cancer journey was inspiring. She created an atmosphere that was very welcoming and comfortable; where we could discuss cases, ask questions, and participate in hands-on activities.  I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be taught by such an experienced professional. Thanks, Tania & PHS!!

– Nadia R

The Breast Cancer Rehabilitation course was an incredible opportunity to gain clarity when working with clients who have been diagnosed with or are recovering from breast cancer. Treating and caring for this specialized population requires particular care, awareness of red flags, and special considerations as well as planning, and this incredible course laid out a clear framework. This course was both enlightening and practice-changing and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

– Chana R