Oncology CME

Each year, more than 290,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed, making it the leading cause of cancer among females in the United States. Although earlier screening and more effective treatment options have improved outcomes among people with breast cancer, more than 43,000 people die from this type of cancer each year. Throughout the course of breast cancer management, bone health remains an important consideration. In early breast cancer, chemotherapy-induced ovarian failure and endocrine therapy can contribute to BMD loss and subsequent osteoporosis and fracture. In advanced breast cancer, about 70% of all patients will experience bone metastases, placing patients at risk for SREs. In fact, breast cancer is associated with the highest risk of SREs among all tumor types.

Maintaining bone health in patients with breast cancer requires routine monitoring and proactive management to minimize the risk of BMD loss, osteoporosis, and SREs. Guidelines therefore recommend that patients with non-metastatic breast cancer initiating aromatase inhibitors or other treatment that causes bone loss undergo dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans to assess baseline BMD. Furthermore, patients at risk for osteoporosis should receive regular follow-up DXA scans to monitor for BMD loss. This represents an opportunity for ongoing education about the need for monitoring to ensure maintenance of optimal bone health.

Each year, over 268,000 cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed. Although early prostate cancer may be cured with surgery or radiation therapy, more than 50% of men will experience recurrence after definitive treatment. New treatment options for advanced prostate cancer have further improved survival and increased the number of patients living with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). But despite the established improvements in survival, a cornerstone of treatment, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), has been associated with well-characterized negative effects on bone health like skeletal-related events (SREs) and bone metastases. These complications the primary drivers of morbidity and mortality among people with CRPC. Maintaining bone health in patients with CRPC requires routine monitoring and proactive management. Bone mineral density (BMD) loss places men with CRPC at elevated risk for osteoporosis and future fractures.

This video activity focuses on ways to help early detection of breast cancer by learning the risk factors, the different screening and diagnostic modalities and guidelines to what kind of screening is needed, and most importantly, when should screening begin.

From October to December, 2022, 50% of the proceeds from this course will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Despite the advances in breast cancer detection and treatment, on the psychological side, clinicians who have been involved in the emotional care of cancer patients can report that a breast cancer diagnosis can nevertheless generate many concerns for patients, as well as their families. Psychological interventions for breast cancer patients have well-documented success in reducing distress and enhancing psychosocial adaptation to disease. As such, these interventions have been highlighted as important mechanisms by which physical health can be improved. This activity focuses on the common issues that impact psychological adjustment to breast cancer and interventions that will help optimize care in the cancer context.

There is a growing prevalence of breast cancer among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) aged 15 to 39 years old, and people of color (POCs). Breast cancer tends to present as more advance and aggressive forms in both of these demographics and is unfortunately associated with higher mortality rates than other populations in whom mortality rates have been decreasing over the last few decades.

This activity highlights the current trends, challenges, and health disparities experienced by AYAs and POCs with breast cancer, and provides insight into possible ways of improving screening and overall management of these patients.