Contents

1. Reviews
2. Preface
3. Acknowledgements
4. Introduction
   1. About Bettercare
   2. Why decentralised learning?
   3. Free Bettercare Online Learning Station
   4. Learning programmes
   5. Format of the courses
   6. Contributors
   7. Updating the course material
   8. Contact information
   9. Registration
5. 1. The normal breast
   1. Objectives
   2. Case studies
   3. Normal breast appearance
   4. Normal breast anatomy
   5. Changes in the breast which may be worrying
   6. Case studies
6. 2. Clinical assessment of the breast
   1. Objectives
   2. Case studies
   3. History taking
   4. The examination of the breasts
   5. Case studies
7. 3. Special investigations of the breast
   1. Objectives
   2. Case studies
   3. Special investigations
   4. Breast imaging
   5. Breast screening
   6. Mammograms
   7. Ultrasound scan
   8. MRI scanning
   9. Cytology
   10. Histology
   11. Excision biopsy
   12. Case studies
8. 4. Benign changes of the breast
   1. Objectives
   2. Case studies
   3. Introduction to benign changes to the breast
   4. Breast fibroadenomas
   5. Breast cysts
   6. Painful breasts
   7. Non-cancerous changes of the nipple-areola complex
   8. Nipple discharge
   9. Infections of the breast
   10. Case studies
9. 5. Cancer of the breast
   1. Objectives
   2. Case studies
   3. Introduction to breast cancer
   4. Types of breast cancer
   5. Clinical presentation of breast cancer
   6. Imaging changes in breast cancer
   7. Case studies
10. 6. Treatment of breast cancer
    1. Objectives
    2. Case studies
    3. Introduction to breast cancer treatment
    4. Surgery in breast cancer treatment
    5. Mastectomy
    6. Breast reconstruction after mastectomy
    7. Axillary surgery
    8. Chemotherapy
    9. Hormone (endocrine) treatment of breast cancer
    10. Targeted therapy
    11. Radiotherapy
    12. Case studies
11. 7. Side effects of breast cancer treatment
    1. Objectives
    2. Case studies
    3. Side effects of chemotherapy
    4. Side effects of hormone treatment
    5. Side effects from radiotherapy
    6. Side effects due to surgery
    7. Lymphoedema
    8. Case studies
12. 8. Palliative care
    1. Objectives
    2. Case studies
    3. Introduction to palliative care
    4. Providing palliative care
    5. The management of pain
    6. Managing discomfort
    7. Managing open wounds
    8. Managing bedsores
    9. Managing constipation
    10. Managing breathlessness
    11. Nausea and vomiting
    12. Mouth care
    13. Psychological and social problems
    14. Case studies
13. Epilogue
    1. What does holism mean?
    2. Alternative healers
    3. Community groups and networking
    4. Education
    5. Support
    6. Advocacy
14. Support groups in South Africa
    1. Adopt A Pink Piggy (APP)
    2. amaBele Belles
    3. Breast Cancer Survivor
    4. BreastSens (BS
    5. Breast Health Foundation (BHF)
    6. Bosom Buddies (BB)
    7. Campaign for Cancer (C4C)
    8. The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA)
    9. HPCA Hospice Palliative Care Association
    10. Journey of Hope (JoH)
    11. Look Good, Feel better (LGFB)
    12. People Living With Cancer (PLWC)
    13. Pink Drive (PD)
    14. Pink Trees for Pauline (PTP)
    15. Reach for Recovery (RFR)
    16. Sinomusanothando – Community Development (SCD)
    17. Wings of Hope (WoH)
15. Other organisations
    1. 8twenty8 (18T)
    2. Avon Justine iThemba Crusade of Hope (CoH)
    3. Breast Course 4 Nurses
    4. Phakamisa (PKM)
    5. Vrede Foundation (VF)
16. Organisations active by region
17. Useful websites
    1. Blogs
    2. Information
    3. Pictures
18. Recipes and diets
    1. Home-made oral rehydration fluid to manage diarrhoea
    2. Carrot soup for patients with diarrhoea
    3. The BRATT diet
    4. The ABC diet
    5. Sour water for digestive problems
19. Examination form
20. Investigations