Breast Cancer Learning Library
Discover what you can learn about breast cancer in our online learning library. Explore resources curated from ONS content and offerings, such as books, courses, clinical practice resources, and articles.
Nursing Practice Resources
Courses
Books
Breast Care Certification Review, Second Edition
The Breast Care Certification Review, Second Edition is the ultimate learning package designed to help prepare oncology nurses to become certified in caring for patients with breast cancer. The book provides numerous practice questions with comprehensive answer rationales, making it the essential guide for nurses planning to sit for the CBCN examination.
Guide to Breast Care for Oncology Nurses
Taking a holistic approach to the entire breast care experience, this course offers nurses comprehensive information on breast cancer care. This book features chapters providing in-depth information on comprehensive breast centers and navigation programs. This is an essential resource for nurses new to the care of patients with breast cancer as well as experienced nurses preparing for the breast care certification examination.
Articles
Below are examples of the types of articles you can find within ONS’s Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing (CJON) and Oncology Nursing Forum (ONF) publications. Go to the journal search page to discover additional articles. Use these tips to search efficiently.
CJON and ONF
2024
2023
Palpitations and Co-Occurring Menopausal Symptoms in Women Prior to Breast Cancer Surgery
2022
Below are examples of ONS Voice articles related to breast care. Visit voice.ons.org to search for additional articles.
FDA Issues Safety Communication for Use of BioZorb Markers in Breast Tissue
Nurse-Led Follow-Up Improves Mental Health, Quality of Life for Breast Cancer Survivors
Chemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy May Have a Link With Vitamin D Deficiency
OFS, Examestane Improve Recurrence-Related Outcomes in Premenopausal Breast Cancer
CDK4/6 Inhibitor Resources
Learning Activities
The Case of the CTCAE Assessment for CDK4/6 Adverse Events
Review this case study to help familiarize yourself on how to monitor and manage your patients taking CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy. Mrs. Jones is a 66-year-old postmenopausal woman who developed left breast pain and a palpable mass. A mammogram and ultrasound showed a 4.6 cm mass with an enlarged axillary node. A core biopsy revealed invasive ductal carcinoma that is estrogen receptor positive, progesterone receptor positive, and HER2 negative. Positron-emission tomography and computed tomography scans revealed metastatic disease.
Practice Resources
Advance Care Planning Worksheet
Advance care planning is a term used to describe a conversation between patients, their families, and healthcare providers about future wishes and priorities for care. It helps the patient contemplate their future, consider their sense of purpose and core values, catalyze deeper communication with their loved ones, and puts the power back in the patient’s hands to ensure their needs and preferences will be honored when it matters most. Use this questionnaire or share it with a loved one or patient to start the advance care planning process.
Dual Inhibition of ER+ Metastatic Breast Cancer: Anti-hormonal Therapy + CDK 4/6 Inhibitor
This resource uses easy to interpret visualize graphics to help better understand the mechanism of action when combining anti-hormonal therapy and a CDK4/6 inhibitor as a dual inhibitor to treat metastatic breast cancer.
CDK4/6 Inhibitors Administration Checklist
If your HR+ HER2- metastatic breast cancer patient is prescribed a CDK4/6 inhibitor, use this checklist to ensure that you have completed the appropriate initial assessments and tests.
CDK4/6 Inhibitor Dosing Guide
This resource is intended to guide providers caring for patients that have HR+ HER2- metastatic breast cancer and are receiving CDK4/6 inhibitors for their treatment and are experiencing adverse reactions that indicate a need for dose adjustment. Reference these easy to interpret dosing guides.
HR+ Metastatic Breast Cancer Targeted Therapy Profiles
This table helps compare the differences between the 3 FDA approved CDK4/6 inhibitors and a mTOR inhibitor. Use this resource as a shared decision-making tool to help your patients understand the different therapy options so they can work with you to choose what is best for them.
Palliative Care Communication Strategies
Use these communication techniques with your patients when you need to start palliative care conversations, choose a new treatment plan, or discuss end of life.
Patient Education Resource
Oral Chemotherapy Education Sheets
Empower your patients to take a more active role in their cancer treatment with free oral chemo patient education sheets that answer common drug-related questions, developed by the National Community Oncology Dispensing Association, Inc., Association of Community Cancer Centers, Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association, and ONS.
Videos
Advance Care Planning DrawShop Video
Advance care planning is a term used to describe a conversation between patients, their families, and healthcare providers about future wishes and priorities for care. It helps the patient contemplate their future, consider their sense of purpose and core values, catalyze deeper communication with their loved ones, and puts the power back in the patient’s hands to ensure their needs and preferences will be honored when it matters most. Learn more about advance care planning through this video.
How do CDK4/6 Inhibitors Work Video
Explains the mechanism of action or CDK4/6 inhibitor, a targeted therapy used in the treatment of HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer.
Nursing Considerations when Administering CDK4/6 Inhibitors Video
After your patient is prescribed a CDK4/6 inhibitor, use this video to ensure that you have completed the appropriate initial assessment and tests.
Oral Adherence DrawShop Video
Use these communication techniques with your patients when you need to start palliative care conversations, choose a new treatment plan, or discuss end of life.
Patient Education
Podcasts
Earn FREE contact hours of NCPD for recent episodes and learn on-the-go by listening to ONS podcasts. Individual episode pages will indicate if NCPD is available. Explore additional podcasts in the Oncology Nursing Podcast Learning Library.
Episode 299: Pharmacology 101: Plant Alkaloids
Episode 296: Pharmacology 101: Anthracyclines and Other Antitumor Antibiotics
Episode 290: Cancer Symptom Management Basics: Peripheral Neuropathy
Episode 286: Pharmacology 101: Alkylating Agents
Episode 269: Cancer Symptom Management Basics: Gastrointestinal Complications
Episode 244: Cancer Symptom Management Basics: Cardiovascular Complications
Episode 219: Use Acupuncture and Acupressure to Manage Cancer Symptoms and Side Effects
Episode 217: Support Pregnant and Postpartum Patients During Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Episode 215: Navigate Updates in Oral Adherence to Cancer Therapies
Episode 182: Administer Trastuzumab Infusions with Confidence
Episode 145: Administer Taxane Chemotherapies with Confidence
Episode 123: Manage Treatment-Related Lymphedema with ONS Guidelines
Episode 113: Manage Cancer-Related Hot Flashes with ONS Guidelines
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Collections of topic-specific content curated to catalog education and resources on a similar topic.
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