Cancer Clinica Universidad de Navarra

1. Clinical and Translational Research in Immunotherapy for solid tumours

Medical Oncology, Immunology

Miguel F. Sanmamed

Through this programme, the students will be able to get in contact with translational researchers in the field of immunology and immunotherapy and adquire basic knowledge on the biological basis of immunotherapy in solid tumours as well as new potential targets under development in the field.

In addition, the students will participate in the clinical activity of the medical oncology consultants dealing with immunotherapy in solid tumour patients both in the standard management and the clinical trials settings.

2. Advanced Interventional Radiation Oncology and Proton Therapy

Discipline:

Radiation Oncologists, Medical Physicist, Surgeons

Programme mentor:

Rafael Martinez-Monge and and Felipe A. Calvo

Duration:

3 - 6 months

Type:

Visiting Observership

Language requirements:

Good knowledge of English required for non Spanish speaking fellows

Programme description:

To observe and interact with advanced technology in clinical radiotherapy specifically designed for interdisciplinary proton therapy and  interventional procedures: intraoperative electron radiotherapy, perioperative high dose rate bracchytherapy, focal HDR irradiation, low-dose rate permanent implant radiotherapy, extracraneal stereotactic body radiotherapy, intracraneal radiosurgery. The clinical contextof these technologies is oriented to the interdisciplinary approach of oligometastatic disease and the rescue alternatves ologo-recurrent cancer.

3. Gynecological Cancer Multidisciplinary Unit

Medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, gynecological oncology

Antonio Gonzalez

The program will allowed the observer to be introduced in the interdisciplinary evaluation, clinical assessement, treatment recommendation and treatment monitoring of a dominant population of patients with ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancer. Exahustive clinical case discussion is performed in specific Tumor Board meeting with an unlimmited participation of imaging, pathology, surgery, oncology, nursing and relevant health-care specialists. Expert actions are devoted to the evaluation of recurrent patients for management opinion. The clinical trials unit offers experimental advanced  treatment options and methodological experience in normalized clinical reseach.

4. Palliative Cancer Care

At the end of the program, the participant will be able to respond to the needs of palliative medicine of highly complex patients with incurable, progressive and advanced diseases; as well as the people linked to them.

The training period is organized over 6 months in a modular system. Below is an extract of the main objective of each training period.

MODULE 1: Early intervention in advanced cancer in outpatient clinic (2-3 months)

Will work as a collaborator of other specialists in outpatient consultation sharing care with them. Together they can evaluate and plan the best treatment for the patient and their family. In the end the candidate will be able to explain the role of the support team integrated in the disease process. He will be able to perform multidimensional evaluation of the patient in an outpatient clinic and will make care plans focused on problems and will be able to follow the evolution of the patient.

MODULE 2: Comprehensive hospitalized patient care (2-3 months)

At the end of the period attending in hospitalization, the professional in training, will show an expert level when talking about matters related to the end of life with patients, their families, and other medical specialists; which includes offering help in defining advance directives and directing decision-making meetings with other specialists. He will be an expert in dealing with requests for euthanasia and in advising any caregiver about the legal and ethical framework in force in his country. Will be able to explore with sensitivity the concerns of patients in the physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual.

MODULE 3: Emotional attention and communication (1 month)

At the end of this module the professional in training will be able to maintain an interview of emotional assessment of an advanced patient; Analyze in a conversation facilitating elements and barriers to effective communication and be familiar with the phenomena of transference and countertransference in dealing with the sick.

MODULE 4: Psychological intervention in advanced disease (1 month)

Upon completion the candidate will appropriately advise relaxation techniques, mind control, thought conversion. You will be familiar with questionnaires that explore existential and spiritual spheres. Will know to indicate therapies of preservation of the dignity.

MODULE 5: Home care (1 month)

The professional will learn to put means to provide continuous care to the patient in different environments (such as, for example, home, hospital, residence, "hospice"); Distribute tasks seeking complementarity in the interdisciplinary team.

MODULE 6: Hospice type care (1 month)

At the end of the stay you will be able to list the characteristics of Hospice type care; will be able to design a volunteer program and supervise the activity of the volunteers.