Disclosures and Important Information

Sponsored by MedCases, LLC

Supported by educational grants from Genentech BioOncology and Sanofi-Aventis.

Release Date: December 29, 2009

Expiration Date: December 28, 2010

Estimated time to complete this activity: 2.0 hours

Accreditation Statement

MedCases, LLC is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

Credit Designation Statement

MedCases designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Statement of Responsibility

MedCases takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity.

Independent Reviewer

Target Audience

This activity is intended for medical oncologists, community oncologists, pathologists, and other allied healthcare professionals involved in managing patients with breast cancer.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites.

Statement of Need

The development of effective systemic agents, in addition to advances in research, has introduced several novel approaches and effective treatment options for patients with breast cancer. While these agents have dramatically improved disease-free and overall survival rates, the advent of these new therapies has also been associated with potential toxicity in a subset of patients. As with previous data, reports continue to demonstrate the importance of medical oncologists being aware of the potential treatment-related toxicities, as well as the importance of implementing steps for appropriate monitoring, prevention, and management.

In particular, the risk for and management of cardiotoxicity associated with the use of certain systemic agents in the treatment of breast cancer remains an important issue. Considering the widespread use of potentially cardiotoxic agents and the increasingly long-term survival of most patients with early-stage breast cancer, the risk for chemotherapy-induced cardiac dysfunction is a growing concern in the medical oncology community. A greater understanding of the relationship between therapeutic agents and potential adverse cardiac events is therefore needed to effectively treat patients with breast cancer while minimizing treatment-related complications. Such understanding then needs to be applied to improving patient care through effective screening for cardiac risk factors, careful scheduling and selective use of specific agents, appropriate cardiac monitoring, and early intervention when there are signs of heart failure.

Method of Participation

This Internet-based activity takes approximately 2 hours to complete. You should review the objectives and case, answer the multiple-choice post-test and complete an evaluation form online. Once completed, you will be able to save your certificate to your own computer and print it on your own printer.

Disclosure Statement

As a provider accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), it is MedCases policy to require the disclosure of the existence of any significant financial interest or any other relationship a faculty member or a provider has with the any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients. The following was reported:

Off-label Statement/Unapproved Uses

In accordance with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements regarding the disclosure of off-label, investigational, or unapproved recommendations for the use of drugs or devices, you are advised that content in this activity does not contain reference(s) to uses of drugs or devices that are off-label, investigational, or unapproved in the United States. The following information is provided for educational purposes and not to endorse off-label use.

Disclaimer

The opinions and recommendations expressed by faculty and other experts whose input is included in this program are their own. This enduring material is produced for educational purposes only. Use of MedCases’ name implies review of educational format design and approach. Please review the complete prescribing information of specific drugs or combination of drugs, including indications, contraindications, warnings and adverse effects before administering pharmacologic therapy to patients.

All information contained within this activity is intended for educational purposes only. Physicians and other health care professionals are encouraged to consult other sources and confirm the information contained in this site because no single reference or service can take the place of medical training, education and experience. Consumers are cautioned that this site is not intended to provide medical advice about any specific medical condition they may have or treatment they may need and they are encouraged to call or see their physician or other health care provider promptly with any health related questions they may have.

The MedCases Web site does not define a standard of care, nor is it intended to dictate an exclusive course of management. Cases are provided for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. This information should not substitute for a visit or consultation with a health care provider.

Privacy Statement

MedCases is committed to maintaining site visitors rights to privacy and confidentiality of personal information. Personal information about site visitors, specific visitor's access and navigation, and information volunteered by site visitors, such as survey information and site registration information, may be used by MedCases to improve the site but will not be shared with or sold to other organizations for commercial purposes without the site visitor's express permission.
Please click here to read MedCases’ detailed privacy policy and other terms of using this web site.

Copyright Information

© 2009 MedCases, LLC

For Further Information

MedCases
4365 US Highway 1, Suite 207
Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone (609) 454-0680
Fax (609) 951-0112
cme@medcases.com

Confirmation

Enter your details in the box below and then click the Start Case button to begin. You may discontinue the case simulation at any time and then return later to resume where you left off. By clicking the Start Case button below, you are confirming that you have reviewed all the disclosures and important information.

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