 | ensuring the right patient receives the right drug, in the right dose, in the right way and at the right time; |
| educating and communicating with patients and their carers to ensure they:
 | have sufficient information on the appropriateness, efficiency and safety of their medicines to
achieve the desired outcomes, and to be confident and compliant with their use; |
| can optimally use their medicines regardless of how they are administered, for example orally, rectally,
topically, inhaled or by injection; |
| are aware of the potential impact of complementary and over-the-counter medicines on either their prescribed medicines or their underlying medical conditions; |
| have action plans to follow when there are potential medicine-related adverse
events; |
|
| communicating with, and providing drug information to, health professionals. |
The success of the pharmacist in promoting quality use of medicines depends on many factors, including knowledge (of drugs and diseases), available patient information, and his or her communication skills.
Pharmacists have a role to play in every stage of gynaecological cancer management, from prevention to treatment. They are a vital part of the team of professionals who ensure the safe and effective drug treatment and management of gynaecological cancers.
Prevention
Part of a pharmacist's job is to increase awareness about the risk factors for gynaecological cancers, promote healthy lifestyles and provide education about the risks and benefits of certain drugs. The use of oral contraceptives, for example, have been shown to play a preventative role in ovarian cancer.
Treatment
After a cancer is diagnosed, pharmacists are involved the treatment of the condition. This involves the preparation of
cytotoxic drugs; advising on the administration and safe handling of these drugs for both the patient and their
carers; monitoring to detect any side-effects; and recommending strategies to minimise the side-effects (such as nausea and vomiting) of these potent agents. Pharmacists also advise if and how anti-cancer drugs may impact on any other medicines routinely taken by the patient.
Alternative Medicine
During treatment is the time when patients and their carers are vulnerable to promotions of alternative cancer treatment strategies. Pharmacists are in the ideal position to provide patients and carers with evidence from the medical literature on the benefits and risks of these strategies. They can also advise on potential drug interactions between the medicines prescribed by the oncologist or the general practitioner, and those self-medicated by the patient on the recommendation of either a health professional, an alternative health practitioner, family, friends or the media.
Some of the most potent of our modern medicines are cancer chemotherapy drugs. Drug therapy is, however, just one element of a
multi-modal approach - including surgery and
radiotherapy - to the management gynaecological cancer. The medication regimes used in the treatment of gynaecological cancer can broadly divided into the following categories:
It is the responsibility of patients and carers, as health consumers, to ask for the evidence (potential risks versus benefits) to support their doctor's choice of medication regime for the treatment of gynaecological cancer.
For every drug that a patient takes, the minimum that one should know about that medicine is the following:
- Name of the drug;
- Strength and form of the product;
- Dose to be taken;
- Instructions for use;
- Expected side effects (especially the side effects requiring medical advice);
- Important interactions (with prescribed, over-the-counter or herbal medicines); and
- Storage and handling instructions.
Due to their potency and nature, exposure to anti-cancer drugs should be limited to the patient alone. As such, special consideration must be given to the handling of body wastes, and the safe disposal of unused medication and the associated equipment.
The Gynaecological Cancer Society, in association with Mater Pharmacies, is undertaking a project to provide information on the full range of gynaecological cancer drugs. At this stage, only information on Methotrexate is available. Please tell us whether you find this information helpful and what other drugs you would like to see information on by completing our
feedback form.
- About Methotrexate.
CancerBACUP also produces some excellent information on the following drugs:
