CANdetect
for practitioners.

CANdetect is for any practitioner working with patients that have been treated for breast cancer,
so that lymphoedema can be detected early.

It is essential that breast cancer-related lymphoedema is detected early.

Approximately 1 in 5 breast cancer survivors will develop breast cancer-related lymphoedema as a side effect of treatment. Research has shown that early care is associated with less incidence and severity of breast cancer–related lymphedema.

Practitioners play a vital role in the early detection of breast cancer-related lymphoedema to help their patients avoid life-long swelling. The current evidence-based recommendations are to screen, educate and detect lymphoedema before physical signs of swelling appear. This means empowering patients in pre-cancer surgery appointments, including prior to a sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure and before neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

It is now current best practice that all breast cancer patients be educated and screened for lymphoedema early (in the preclinical stage). Shah and colleagues, authors of a 2020 meta-analysis of 67,000 patients state that identification in the subclinical phase allows early intervention and reduces both severe and irreversible symptoms of chronic breast cancer-related lymphoedema.

“Given that the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer is now 90%, experiencing breast cancer is ultimately about quality of life. Women treated for breast cancer are facing a life-time risk of developing lymphedema, a chronic condition that occurs in up to 40% of this population and negatively affects breast cancer survivors’ quality of life.”

– Dr. Fu, Breast cancer-related lymphedema: Symptoms, diagnosis, risk reduction, and management.

CANdetect helps you understand what causes lymphoedema.

Breast cancer-related lymphoedema should not be a mystery.

Current research explains the evidence-based risk factors that cause lymphoedema. Patients need to be screened for and educated on lymphoedema at the start of their cancer treatment so they can be empowered to understand their individual and treatment-related risk factors in order to make informed management and self-care decisions.

CANdetect is an online, self-paced course, designed to help you understand what causes lymphoedema, what patients can do to reduce their risk of developing the condition and how to detect lymphoedema early.

Your training is proudly brought to you by the Australian Physiotherapy Association’s learning management system.

CANdetect is for you if…

  • You work with patients who are undergoing or who have undergone breast cancer-related treatment in the last 5-10 years
  • Your patients have not yet developed symptoms of lymphoedema
    (if patients have symptoms then CANtreat is for you)
  • You want to help your patients understand how subclinical lymphoedema progresses to chronic lymphoedema if untreated.
  • You want to be proactively involved in your patients’ health care
  • You are motivated to nurture and care for your patients
  • You know how to use a computer or mobile phone and have an internet connection to watch the course videos
ENROL IN CANDETECT NOW

“As a not-for-profit breast cancer exercise program, we were ecstatic to receive the support with online training on understanding the early intervention of breast cancer related lymphoedema provided for our coordinators and facilitators. The training has equipped us with valuable knowledge that contributes to the positive interaction we have with our participants. We encourage others to complete the training.”

Kyro BrowerEncore Coordinator NSW

Meet your experienced CANdetect presenters.

Professor Piller

Lymphologist
Flinders University

Director of the Lymphoedema Clinical Research Unit at Flinders University, with over 40 years’ experience researching and studying the lymphatic system. He presents lymphoedema education in an easy to understand and accessible way.

Andrea Mangion

Lymphoedema Physiotherapist

Titled Cancer & Lymphoedema Physiotherapist and Honorary Lecturer at Macquarie University, Andrea is the Director of the Australian Institute of Lymphoedema. She’s on a mission to help those at risk of, or diagnosed with, lymphoedema.

Monique

Living with
lymphoedema

Monique is living with lymphoedema in her breast and arm as a result of breast cancer treatment. She has become President of the Lymphoedema Support Group of South Australia and has dedicated her life to lymphoedema advocacy projects.

Ros

Living with
lymphoedema

Ros developed lymphoedema in both arms following breast cancer treatment. She shares her interesting and honest experience of living with lymphoedema to help others living with lymphoedema to manage and take control of the condition.

ENROL IN CANDETECT NOW

What’s included in CANdetect?

CANdetect arms you with the evidence-backed education and cutting edge research you need to detect breast cancer-related lymphoedema early.

The online course includes lessons and information on…

  • What breast cancer-related lymphoedema is
  • How the lymphatic system works
  • How breast cancer treatments can cause lymphoedema
  • How early detection and diagnosis can occur 
  • What stage zero lymphoedema is
  • The factors that increase the risk of lymphoedema
  • The early warning signs of breast cancer-related lymphoedema
  • How early lymphoedema is treated
  • What it’s like living with breast cancer-related lymphoedema

CANdetect course preview

Want to know what the CANdetect course will cover?

Watch the short CANdetect course introduction video below for a preview of the course content and to meet your CANdetect course presenters.

CANdetect also includes…

Flinders Foundation contribution

Your decision to purchase CANdetect will help care for others, with a portion of every CANdetect purchase going to the Flinders Foundation charity – an organisation dedicated to medical research and patient care.

CPD points

CANdetect is recognised by leading organisations such as the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and can be used for 8 hours of Continuing Professional Development hours (or CPD points).

ENROL IN CANDETECT NOW

CANdetect is proudly offered through the APA.

CANdetect is proudly offered through the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) – the peak professional Physiotherapy organisation in Australia. CANdetect is also recognised for CPD points by the Australian Traditional Medicine Association (ATMS).