Studies in English

Goals

The objective of the course is to familiarize medical students with the role of radiotherapy, systemic treatment and palliative care in a multidisciplinary approach in oncological patients. Students will get familiar with the indications and modern possibilities of radiotherapy, systemic treatment and palliative care in solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, in all stages of malignant disease. They will also become aware of the potential toxic effects of therapy, as well as the basic principles of toxicity management. Students will get familiar with follow-up and control of patients upon completion of treatment.

Outcome

Knowledge gained during the course allows medical doctors to:
A) master and adopt the basic indications and modern possibilities of radiotherapy, systemic treatment and palliative care in solid tumors and haematological malignancies, in all stages of malignant disease
B) be aware of the potential toxic effects of therapy and the basic principles of toxicity management
C) master and adopt patient control modalities and follow-up upon completion of oncological treatment

Course Content

Theoretical teaching

Clinical application of radiotherapy. Radiotherapy as monotherapy and as part of multidisciplinary treatment of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Radiobiological and physical basics of radiotherapy. Modern radiotherapy techniques. Indications for radiotherapy. Principles of radiotherapy planning, radiotherapy doses and fractionation. Complications of radiotherapy (acute and late toxicity). Complications of radiotherapy in each organ and system. Managing radiotherapy complications.
Types of systemic treatment (chemotherapy, hormonotherapy, biological / molecular / target therapy, immunotherapy) in solid tumors. Modern and innovative systemic treatment options. Principles of systemic treatment (neoadjuvant, adjuvant, concomitant, palliative therapy). Palliative care. Metastatic disease. Patient care in all stages of the disease, taking into account psychological, ethical and social parameters. Acute and late toxicity of systemic treatment and its management.
Symptomatic and supportive therapy.
Follow-up and control of patients upon completion of oncological treatment.

Practical Teaching

Introducing students to patients undergoing radiotherapy, systemic treatment, palliative care. Medical history and clinical status of patients. Getting familiar with the work of the tumor board, the organization of work in wards and day hospitals. Demonstration on radiotherapy machines. Getting familiar with modern radiotherapy techniques. Presentation of the effects of acute and late toxicity of radiotherapy and systemic treatment on clinical cases as well as the principles of toxicity management.

Number of lessons

The total number of all lessons is 30 (15 lectures – 1.5h duration each, 15 practical – 1.5h duration each)

Attendance

Attendance to the lectures and practicals is obligatory and will be confirmed by professor's signatures on the attendance sheet given at the beginning of the course. Missed lectures have no make-ups. If a student has missed more than 50% of lectures during the semester, he will not receive points based on class attendance.
A student can miss one practical per semester without make-up. If the student missed more than one practical, and less than one third of total practicals, he is obliged to make up for it.

Final test

Provided mode for knowledge assessment is the test of 40 multiple choice questions.
The result is expressed as passed/not passed.
For a positive result (passed exam) student must have at least 21/40 (51%) of correct answers.

Course material Presentations (lectures and practicals) (until the printing of the student's book "Clinical Oncology with Radiotherapy")
Supplementary literature:   

1. Cinical Oncology - Basic Principles and Practice, fourth edition, Editors: Neal Anthony, Hoskin Peter

2. Radiation Oncology - What every Medical Student Needs to Know, Editors: Abigail T. Berman, Jordan Kharofa                                                                                                                                                       

3. Textbook of Radiotherapy. Radiation Physics, Therapy and Oncology. Walter and Miller's. Sixth edition