The purpose of the Breast and Reproductive Cancers module is to develop your knowledge of the scientific basis of these cancers, their biology, prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship for the women who unfortunately develop a women’s cancer. The module will foster your critical understanding of the geographical and socioeconomic context for care, and how this influences the ability to deliver optimum care. We also pursue a clinically facing strand in the module to help you understand patients’ experience of treatment, the psychological impact of this and the complex care decisions. You will develop a critical appreciation of the socio-legal and ethical aspects in women’s cancer and deepen your critical application of research evidence and how this provides an opportunity to address deficits in care. 

After taking this module you should be able to: 


	Demonstrate knowledge of the molecular basis, epidemiology, risk factors, screening, and diagnosis of women’s cancers;
	
	
	Demonstrate knowledge of the scientific rationale for clinical care and optimal management; 
	
	
	Demonstrate understanding of current research methods and approaches in the field;
	

	Understand the socio legal and ethical aspects of screening, prevention, treatment, survivorship, and end of life care;  
	
	
	Critically appreciate the ways in which psychology and health behaviour may be addressed for optimal care. 
	
The module is planned to be interactive, combining lectures, ‘flipped’ lectures, tutorials, e-learning, a few visits and a range of peer and tutor-led case-based discussions. Emphasis will be on connecting science and theory to practice across a diversity of women’s cancer challenges. Learning activities include a workshop on key research papers in women’s cancer, a case-based discussion on the opportunities and challenges in next-generation sequencing in the case of BRCA, a tutorial on cultural representations of women’s cancer, a quiz session, and visits to the UCLH (University College London Hospital) Macmillan Cancer Centre and to pathology and proteomics laboratories. There is also an opportunity to visit the breast cancer screening unit at Bart’s hospital. 

Introductory reading 


	Keen A, Lennan E, Kaye SB. (2011) Women’s Cancers. Wiley Blackwell, London. 
	

	Kehoe S. (2011) Gynaecological Cancers: Biology and Therapeutics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.   
	
	
	Fay Schopen, Cancer Patients Need More Than Survival in The Guardian, October 2017. https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/05/cancer-patients-survival-miracle-cures-medical-research 
	
	
	Olaitan A, Douefakas K. (2020) Survival after treatment for gynaecological cancer: Dealing with treatment-related morbidity. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Cambridge.