Port Elizabeth breast course: day 1

Sr Nonnie (St Francis Hospice)

The Breast Course for Nurses has returned to Port Elizabeth for the second part of the course.  It has been well attended with a mixture of nurses from the public and private sector. Dr Anne Gudgeon, Sr Lieske and Michelle Norris and I travelled for Cape Town.

On the first day, Sr Nonnie (St Francis Hospice) and Dr Linda Whitelock-Jones (breast surgeon) joined us from Port Elizabeth.

Sr Nonnie ran the palliative care session.  She divided the participants into 4 groups and gave them a case to discuss.  After discussing the cases, each group gave their feedback and contributed to a general discussion.  There were 2 points that were emphasised: all patients need to be respected and told the truth.  A family/community cannot begin to support an individual who is dying if there is a barrier to discussion.

Sr Lieske helping Eunice with a biopsy

In the afternoon, Anne and I spent time teaching various biopsy techniques.  All the participants had a chance to practise the procedures themselves.  Linda Whitelock-Jones ran the station on radiological investigations.  The day ended with a discussion about how the manage locally advanced wounds.


It will be a wonderful day when we don't need to have the last session.

Anne Gudgeon teaching about the pitfalls of FNA