Community Pharmacy

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:

  1. Safe dispensing of oral anti-cancer medicines (OAM). Please refer to the dispensing section in Table 1 below for guidance.
  2. Patient counselling of patients with cancer
  3. 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.

Regimens

NCCP National SACT  Regimens for all SACT

Listed as per tumour site, including OAM and OAM in combination with IV SACT

NCCP National SACT Regimens for Oral Anti-Cancer Medicines

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 (PDF)

This is the NCCP classification document for anti-emetics prescribed in conjunction with chemotherapy as supportive care

Dispensing

NCCP Guidance on Dose Banding

For some drugs e.g. capecitabine, doses are calculated on an individualised basis and may be rounded up or down to predetermined standard doses

General information

NCCP Clinical Practice Guidelines

Evidence-based guidelines on common cancers

The NCCP Guidance on the use of Biosimilars in Cancer Treatment has been retired ( May 2024). Please see link to HSE Guidance for Biological and Biosimilar Medicines use in Acute Hospitals here

To note that Biosimilars are not interchangeable at pharmacy level  

NCCP Patient Information leaflets and booklets

Influenza Vaccine and Patients with Cancer

Education resources

National Competency Framework for Pharmacists Working in Cancer Care

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

 

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     

  •  (December 2023). Please note that this is an archived version of the interaction checker. Please note the date of last update. It is the responsibility of the user to assess the clinical relevance of the archived data and the risks and benefits of using such data.

 

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

 

A self-directed online training programme  

BC Cancer Education Programme

 

A pharmacy education programme on cancer treatments

eviQ Education

 

An education resource with the option of long or short courses 

British Oncology Pharmacy Association

 

A variety of oncology courses available

European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)

 

Information on the latest research and updates on cancer treatments

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre

 

A variety of information on cancer treatments and clinical research

HSeLanD Online Learning and Development Portal

 

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.

Background to Oral Anti-cancer Medicines (OAM) Resources

OAM Model of Care

The National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 (PDF) 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.

NCCP Oncology Medications Safety Review Report

In 2014, the NCCP published the findings of an Oncology Medication and Safety Review (PDF) 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