GYNAECOLOGICAL ONCOLOGY
GUIDELINES FOR COMPETENCY BASED POSTGRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR MCh IN GYNAECOLOGICAL ONCOLOGY
Preamble
Gynaecological Cancers (Cancer cervix, cancer uterus, tubo-ovarian cancers, vaginal and vulval cancers) comprise 25-40% of patient workload in established Departments of Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology and Surgical Oncology. Whereas specialities such as radiation oncology and medical oncology look after all cancers, there is lack of specialists interested or devoted to the field of “Gynaecological Oncology”.
A subspecialist in Gynaecological Oncology is one who has undertaken formal training in field of Gynaecological oncology and acquires special expertise in the field of Gynaecological Oncology including broad based knowledge in related disciplines such as medical oncology, radiation oncology, gynaecological pathology and palliative management of patients suffering from gynaecological cancers.
SUBJECT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
The aims of Sub-specialisation in Gynaecological Oncology are:
- To create a work force of specialists trained in the field of Gynaecological Oncology.
- To improve practice, knowledge and research in the field of Gynaecological Oncology.
- To improve standards of care for patients suffering from gynaecological cancers.
- To encourage close understanding with disciplines such as Radiation Oncology and Medical Oncology involved in the care of women suffering from gynaecological cancer.
- To encourage co-ordinated management of gynaecological cancers as a multidisciplinary approach.
SUBJECT SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES
By the end of the course, the student should have acquired knowledge (cognitive domain), professionalism (affective domain) and skills (psychomotor domain) as per details given below:
A. Cognitive domain (theoretical knowledge):
The post graduate student should acquire knowledge in the following areas by the end of the training programme.
Thorough understanding of:
- Female pelvic anatomy
- Vascular supply of pelvis
- Anatomy of female ureter and bladder
- Lymphatic drainage of female pelvis including vulva
- Pathology of premalignant and malignant lesions of female genital tract
- FIGO and other international staging systems for various gynaecological cancers
- Surgical principles in the management of various gynaecological cancers
- Postoperative care, including fluid and electrolyte management
- Surgical management in case of small intestine or large bowel involvement by gynaecological cancer
- Surgical management in case of ureter or bladder involvement or injury during surgery
- Prophylaxis against venous thrombo-embolism
- Management of suspected and established cases of venous thrombo-embolism
- Concept of Medical and Radiation Oncology management of these cases
Writing Research articles :
The trainee should be able to design research protocol, implement the same and interpret the results of the research study
The trainee should be able to evaluate the relevant literature critically
A candidate would be expected to publish/submit two original articles related to the speciality in an indexed journal.
Medical Statistics
The student should acquire knowledge in the following areas of medical statistics:
Type of data & Sampling
- Categorical data (nominal, ordinal)
- Numerical data (discrete and continuous, the Normal distribution, transformation to Normality)
- Random sampling
- Standard error of a sample mean and of a proportion, and their differences
Principles of statistical inference & comparing groups
- Hypothesis testing and estimation
- Type I and II errors
- Interpretation of p-values and confidence intervals
- Statistical and clinical significance
- T-tests & Chi square with corrections
Survival analysis
- Types of time-to-event data (survival data, recurrence data)
- Presentation of survival data
- Kaplan-Meier and actuarial survival curves
- Summarizing survival data
- Comparing groups
Logrank test for two or more groups, including ordered groups
Use of Cox’s proportional hazards regression model
Hazard ratios and their interpretation
Clinical trials
Phases I-IV of clinical trials
Randomization
- Need for randomization
- Problems with non-randomized studies and historical controls
- Methods of randomization (simple, bloc, stratified minimization)
- Blinding / masking
Designs: parallel group, cross-over, factorial
Contents of a trial protocol
Ethics and informed consent
Measures of response
- Tumour regression, Quality of life, Morbidity, Local and regional recurrence, Distant metastases, Death
Principles of sample size calculation
Interim analyses & Intent-to-treat analysis
B. Affective Domain:
The post graduate student:
- should be able to function as a part of a team, develop an attitude of cooperation with colleagues, and interact with the patient and the clinician or other colleagues to provide the best possible diagnosis or opinion.
- should always adopt ethical principles and maintain proper etiquette in dealings with patients, relatives and other health personnel and to respect the rights of the patient including the right to information and second opinion.
- should develop communication skills to word reports and professional opinion as well as to interact with patients, relatives, peers and paramedical staff, and for effective teaching.
- During the course of three years the post graduate student will be expected to attend at least one course of one week duration dedicated to communication skills being conducted either in the same institution or by a recognized institution.
- should effectively communicate to patient and her relatives the nature of disease, the extent of disease, the treatment options available and expected outcome following management of the disease.
- should be able to execute the planned treatment with the help of other colleagues in the speciality of Gynaecological Oncology.
- should maintain the highest degree of professionalism in executing treatment of the disease and communication to the patient and relatives.
C. Psychomotor domain
At the end of the course, the student should acquire following practical and clinical skills, details of which are given under Syllabus:
- Cancer cervix:
- Carcinoma Endometrium:
- Management of ovarian cancers (primary debulking, interval debulking and secondary debulking)
- Management of vulval cancers
- Management of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN)
- Diagnosis and management of rare genital tract cancers such as carcinoma fallopian tubes, sarcoma uterus, carcinoma vagina
- Diagnosis and management of recurrent lesions and metastasis
- Evaluation of patient on follow-up
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Counselling for familial Cancer Syndromes
Surgical management of operable cancer cervix cases
Diagnosis and management of pre-invasive lesions of cervix
Selection and pre-treatment workup of patients needing radiation therapy and chemotherapy for cancer cervix
Diagnosis and management of carcinoma endometrium
Syllabus