When you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you may be wondering what oncology pharmacists do. This may be especially true when you already have a large care team. At the most basic level, oncological pharmacists work with your oncologist and the other doctors in your team to provide you with the specialized medications needed for cancer treatment. However, they do much more than that.
What Is an Oncology Pharmacist?
Just as there are specialists in other areas of medicine, oncology pharmacists are doctors who are specially trained to understand the medications used to treat cancers and blood disorders. Medications used to treat cancer are often unavailable at traditional pharmacies and must be supplied by a specialty pharmacy, which is where an oncology pharmacist usually works.
At The Cancer & Hematology Centers, our oncology pharmacists work directly with our patients’ care teams and supply the medicines needed to treat your cancer. Several of our cancer centers have specialty retail pharmacies on site.
How Oncology Pharmacists Help with Your Treatment Plan
From the time you have been diagnosed throughout your treatment, you will have an oncological pharmacist. Your pharmacist will work with your doctors to create a plan that they believe will be the most effective at fighting your cancer. The pharmacist will make sure that your treatment is dispensed and administered according to the plan. At The Cancer & Hematology Centers, we believe it is vital for patients to have a dedicated pharmacist who will support the care team in choosing the right combination of medications and treatments.
Your care team will include your physician, the oncological pharmacist, a chemotherapy/biotherapy-certified nurse, a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, a medical assistant, multiple lab technicians, a financial coordinator, and a social worker. All of these people work together to make sure that you have the best care possible. Additionally, we offer many other resources to help manage the emotional and mental aspects of being diagnosed with cancer.
Talking with Your Cancer Care Team
As soon as your doctor has made a diagnosis, they will begin working to develop a care strategy that includes a multifaceted treatment approach. An oncological pharmacist will be at your doctor’s side from the beginning to offer their expertise in several areas:
- How effective certain medications will be against the type of cancer you have
- Whether the medications you are taking have any interactions with each other or with other medications or supplements you are taking
- Whether your cancer medications have side effects, what those side effects are, and how best to treat them
Since your oncological pharmacist is part of your care team from day one, you can be confident that they will understand the ins and outs of your situation and work to create the most effective treatment plan.
Mixing Chemotherapy and Other Medicines
Not all medications used to treat cancer work universally, and many people don’t realize that different types of chemotherapy target different types of cancers. Your pharmacist will work with your doctor to recommend the right dose of the medication that is likely to be most effective against your cancer.
The oncological pharmacist’s job is to make sure that the medication you receive matches your doctor’s recommendations. The pharmacist will also make sure that the different aspects of your treatment plan work together. They will help you with your treatment schedule, whether you are taking chemotherapy orally, through an injection, or with an IV drip. Some chemotherapies can even be applied topically.
Your care team will help you understand your treatment plan, what it will involve, how you will feel, and how your anticancer drugs are expected to work. Cancer treatment often involves multiple medications in combination with targeted therapies, potentially including immunotherapy and hormone therapy.
Educating You on Your Treatment
You may be surprised to know that oncological pharmacists are also involved in patient education. Pharmacists are directly involved with your care and work closely with the other members of your care team. They will help you understand the treatment you are about to receive, how it will affect you, what side effects may occur, and what you can do to manage any side effects you experience.
Additionally, the oncological pharmacist will explain exactly how and when to take each prescribed medication. Many anticancer medications need to be taken at exactly the same time each day so they can work properly and be as effective as possible at destroying cancer cells.
Helping You Understand Side Effects
Side effects are an unfortunate possibility when taking the strong prescription medications that are required to fight cancer. Your oncological pharmacist will be there to help you and your family understand what may occur so there are no surprises.
They will also help you understand what options you have to treat side effects so that you are not suffering needlessly. Because of their expertise, they know what medications can be added to manage side effects and which ones must be avoided because they may have a negative interaction. Your oncological pharmacist will help you with your medication throughout your treatment to ensure you are being treated with respect and compassion.
While there are many known side effects to various cancer drugs, there is the possibility that you may experience side effects that are not normal. If those occur, you should call your oncological pharmacist at (800) 411-7999 to report the severe or unusual symptoms you are experiencing. The pharmacist will be able to help you through what you should do and whether you would need to go to The Cancer & Hematology Centers or if it is an emergency.
Being Involved in Clinical Studies and Trials
When considering how to treat your cancer, it is an excellent option to work with a treatment center that not only provides you with a complete cancer team (including an oncological pharmacist) but also the option for clinical trials.
Oncological pharmacists are vital to clinical trials because they make sure that the cancer drugs being studied are administered safely and accurately, manage patients’ side effects, monitor drug interactions, and consult on complex treatment plans. Without oncological pharmacists, clinical trials would not be viable options for patients interested in the latest treatment options.
At The Cancer & Hematology Centers, we are proud to offer our patients access to emerging treatments before they’re widely available. Our team will help guide you through your options and the process of joining a clinical trial, and we will be there to support you while you’re going through treatment.
Get to Know Our Oncological Pharmacists
At The Cancer & Hematology Centers, we believe in a team effort, which means that our pharmacists work with the other professionals in the care team to achieve the best results for our patients.
You can expect professional, dedicated pharmacists who are knowledgeable and compassionate at every step of the process. Our team of oncological pharmacists is held to the highest standards to ensure you receive the best care possible.
Connect with Us Today for Cancer Care
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with cancer and want to talk to someone about treatment options, second opinions, or to simply learn more, please call (800) 411-7999 to reach a member of our on-call staff.