Breast care nurses Doris Fenech and Anna Catania recently attended the Breast Cancer Care Module at the Royal Marsden Hospital School of Nursing in London – an opportunity offered by Europa Donna Malta (Breast Care Support Group).

The course they attended consisted of five study days covering topics related to the care of the patient going through the breast cancer journey. These included breast screening and cancer diagnosis, pathology and genetics related to breast cancer, surgical procedures and breast reconstruction.

Moreover, they discussed various treatment modalities, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormonal treatment, including prospective treatments and care. Various workshops helped them look into the tough side effects caused by these oncological treatments and how, as nurses, they can offer advice and support to patients during this time.

Other topics covered were the psychosocial aspects of this experience, including how children cope when their family is passing through such a trauma.

This was also an opportunity to meet nurses working in several areas related to breast cancer care and to discuss the service provided to patients at a local level.