Community Pharmacy

COMMUNITY PHARMACIST RESOURCE PAGE

INTRODUCTION:

This community pharmacist resource page has been developed to support community pharmacists involved in the care of patients with cancer, with particular focus on the following areas:

Safe dispensing of oral anti-cancer medicines (OAM). Please refer to the dispensing section in Table 1 below for guidance.
Patient counselling of patients with cancer
Supportive care for systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT), including OAM and hospital administered SACT

The tables below include links to relevant national and international resources on OAM and on other cancer related topics e.g. supportive care.
See tables below for resources to support community pharmacists.

Table 1: NCCP Resources for Community Pharmacists
RESOURCE TYPE	LINK TO RESOURCE	COMMENT
REGIMENS
National Chemotherapy Regimens for all SACT	Available on NCCP website here	Listed as per tumour site, including OAM and OAM in combination with IV SACT
National Chemotherapy Regimens for OAM	Available on NCCP website here	These can be used to support the safe dispensing of OAM
SUPPORTIVE CARE
NCCP Classification Document for Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) Induced Nausea and Vomiting	Available here	This is the NCCP classification document for anti-emetics prescribed in conjunction with chemotherapy as supportive care
DISPENSING
NCCP Guidance on Dose Banding	Available here	For some drugs e.g. capecitabine, doses are calculated on an individualised basis and may be rounded up or down to predetermined standard doses
NCCP Briefing Note: Implementation of the Lenalidomide Pregnancy Prevention Programme (PPP) for Generic Products	Available here	This briefing note provides details of risk minimisation measures required for all lenalidomide generic products, including a pregnancy prevention programme (PPP) and a national controlled distribution system.
GENERAL INFORMATION
NCCP Clinical Practice Guidelines	Available here	Evidence-based guidelines on common cancers
NCCP Guidance on Biosimilars in Cancer Treatment	Available here	To note that Biosimilars are not interchangeable at pharmacy level
Advice on Cancer Prevention	Available here
Advice on Cancer Screening	Available here
Useful Cancer Information and Support Websites	Available here
NCCP Patient Information leaflets and booklets	Available here
Influenza Vaccine and Patients with Cancer	FAQs available here
Covid-19 and Patients with Cancer	Available here
EDUCATION RESOURCES
National Competency Framework for Pharmacists Working in Cancer Care	Available here	Developed by NCCP in conjunction with colleagues from the IIOP, the IPU, hospital oncology pharmacy and community pharmacy

Table 2: Other Resources for Community Pharmacists
RESOURCE TYPE	LINK TO RESOURCE	COMMENT
REGIMENS	International reference sources
BC Cancer Protocols (British Columbia, Canada)	Available here
eviQ Protocols (Australia)	Available here
NCCN Guidelines (US)	Available here
SUPPORTIVE CARE
BC Cancer Clinical Resources Supportive Care	Available here
eviQ Clinical Resources – Side Effects and Toxicity Management	Available here
NCCN Guidelines – Supportive Care	Available here
ESMO Supportive Care (European Society for Medical Oncology)	Available here	Evidence-based recommendations on cancer-related areas including bone pain, immunotherapy toxicity, venous thromboembolism, extravasation
DISPENSING
OAM Summary of Product Characteristics	Available here	From the medicines.ie website
Drug Interactions with Food and Other Drugs	Available here	From the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Liverpool Drug Interactions	Available here	Interaction checker for cancer drug
Drug Interactions with Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAMs)	Available here	From the National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre – herbs, botanicals and other products	Available here	Expert advice and information on supplements and integrative medicine treatments
Credible Meds – QT Prolongation	Available here	A list of cancer treatments categorised by their potential to cause QT prolongation and/or torsades de pointes (TdP)
Information on managing/identifying Adverse Effects	Available here	Chemocare website
Useful Counselling Points for individual drugs	Available here	Chemocare website
Information on how to report suspected adverse events (HPRA)	Available here	Pharmacists are encouraged to report suspected adverse effects to the HPRA
Information on Government Medical Schemes	Available here	Details of schemes and allowances that can help with healthcare costs
List of OAMS available on High Tech Drug Scheme	Available here	Many OAMs are ordered via the High Tech Hub on the PCRS website
GENERAL INFORMATION
Cancer Trials Ireland website – details of open clinical trials	Available here	Information on open cancer clinical trials including basket trials
EDUCATION RESOURCES
IIOP - Oral Anti-Cancer Medicines	Available here	A self-directed online training programme
BC Cancer Education Programme	Available here	A pharmacy education programme on cancer treatments
eviQ Education	Available here	An education resource with the option of long or short courses
British Oncology Pharmacy Association	Available here	A variety of oncology courses available
Nova Scotia Health Authority	Available here	Resources for pharmacists dispensing OAMs
European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)	Available here	Information on the latest research and updates on cancer treatments
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre	Available here	A variety of information on cancer treatments and clinical research
HSeLanD Online Learning and Development Portal	Available here	Community pharmacists can register to access learning modules, some of which are cancer-related

The NCCP also provides guidance on many other aspects of cancer treatment such as nursing, survivorship and psycho-oncology. See links available here.

BACKGROUND TO ORAL ANTI-CANCER MEDICINES (OAM) RESOURCES:

OAM Model of Care

The National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 (available here) recommended the development of a national model of care for Oral Anti-Cancer Medicines (OAM) (Recommendation 23). This has been completed by a working group convened by the NCCP and is available here.

NCCP Oncology Medications Safety Review Report

In 2014, the NCCP published the findings of an Oncology Medication and Safety Review (available here) which was conducted across the 26 hospitals in Ireland involved in the administration of systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) in adults and children. The development of national guidance on the care of patients receiving OAM was also a key recommendation from this review.

All comments and feedback are welcome at oncologydrugs@cancercontrol.ie