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Unit outline_

HSBH3007: Cancer: Prevention through to Palliation

Intensive October - November, 2023 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Rehabilitation and exercise programs are a critical part of multi-disciplinary care for cancer patients. In this unit of study, students will be introduced to a range of issues related to the prevention, detection and intervention for cancer. you’ll learn about the prevention, pathophysiology, detection and treatment for cancer. Further topics that will be covered include: the role of exercise in the prevention through palliation for cancer; prevention and interventions for physical and psychosocial impairments that arise secondary to treatments, including pain, lymphoedema, and fatigue. A focus is placed on patient-centered care informed by current evidence.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Health Sciences
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
Students must have completed at least 48 credit points
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Mi-Joung Lee, mi-joung.lee@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Elizabeth Dylke, elizabeth.dylke@sydney.edu.au
Kimberley Docking, kimberley.docking@sydney.edu.au
Mi-Joung Lee, mi-joung.lee@sydney.edu.au
David Mizrahi, david.mizrahi@sydney.edu.au
Victoria Choi, victoria.choi@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Edward Gorgon, edward.gorgon@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Short release individual case study focused assessment
MCQ and short answer questions
60% Formal exam period
Due date: 21 Nov 2023 at 09:00

Closing date: 21 Nov 2023
2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Assignment Written report
Development of allied health program proposal (2 A4 pages); 1pg advert
40% Week 05
Due date: 10 Nov 2023 at 23:59
3 A4 pages- program proposal
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO8 LO9

Assessment summary

Group written report; Final written examination

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Lecture 1: Introduction to Cancer and Cancer Rehabilitation Lecture 2: Cancer and cancer survivorship programs Lecture 3 & 4: Patient centered care in cancer survivorship Lecture (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO10
Working in cancer Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO8 LO10
Week 02 Lecture 5: Treatment for cancer Lecture 6: Impact of treatment for breast cancer Lecture 7: Impact of treatment fo rmelanoma Lecture 8: Impact of treatment for bowel/prostate cancer Lecture (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO9 LO10
Implementing evidence and service development Tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO8 LO9
Week 03 Lecture 9: Pain and cancer Lecture 10: Lymphoedema I Lecture 11: Lymphoedema II Lecture 12: Memory and chemobrain Lecture (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO8 LO9
Lymphoedema assessment Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO7 LO9
Week 04 Lecture 13: Exercise and early-stage cancer Lecture 14: Exercise and late-stage cancer Lecture 15: Exercise and paediatric cancers Lecture 16: Exercise and paediatric cancers Lecture (4 hr) LO3 LO5 LO6 LO9
Development of an exercise program Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO8 LO10
Week 05 Lecture 17: Cancer and work Lecture 18: Communication after treatment for paediatric cancer Lecture 19: CIPN Lecture 20: Fear of recurrence Lecture (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO8 LO10
Implementing and running an exercise program Tutorial (2 hr) LO4 LO8 LO9
Week 06 Lecture 21: Culture and cancer Lecture 22: Paliative and end of life care Lecture 23: Case studies and content review Lecture 24: Working in oncology Lecture (4 hr) LO2 LO8 LO10
Cultural impact & cancer diagnosis and treatment Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO8 LO9 LO10

Attendance and class requirements

You are required to attend the 4 hours of lectures per week associated with this unit of study and all the tutorials associated with this unit of study, which are designed as 2-hour tutorial blocks across 8 weeks of the semester.

Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Head of School, or Professor most concerned. The Head of School or Professor most concerned may determine that a student fails a unit of study because of inadequate attendance. Alternatively, at their discretion, they may set additional assessment items where attendance is lower than 90%.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

No specific textbooks are required for this unit of study.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. explain the epidemiology of the common cancers.
  • LO2. examine the roles of the multidisciplinary team that manages cancer patients.
  • LO3. explain the physical and psychological impairments that may arise from treatment of cancer, including their pathophysiology and impact.
  • LO4. evaluate the treatment and management options for the physical and psychological impairments that may arise from the treatment of cancer.
  • LO5. demonstrate a critical understanding of the role of exercise in prevention (initial and recurrence), and management of cancer.
  • LO6. confidently prescribe exercise programs for patients with various cancer histories.
  • LO7. clearly discuss the assessment and treatment options for lymphoedema secondary to treatment of cancer.
  • LO8. evaluate the impact of patient-specific factors on a patient’s experience during diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and end of life decisions of cancer, including culture.
  • LO9. develop critical knowledge and analytical skill in processing evidence into clinical practices
  • LO10. conduct difficult conversations about cancer and cancer survivorship

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Some changes were made in the lecture and tutorial contents and the order of delivery to fit in the intensive November session.

Work, health and safety

Further information will be provided about appropriate dress for Practical classes, however, closed-in footwear is required for Practical Classes

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.