What is your current role and practice?
I am based in a small community pharmacy in Pontypool, Wales. I have been working in community pharmacy for almost 10 years.
I was formerly a dispensing assistant, completing my pre-registration year in 2021 before qualifying as a pharmacist and joining my current practice in January this year.
Do you feel that there is a place for pharmacists to support patients experiencing cancer symptoms, and helping them through their cancer journey?
Definitely! As pharmacists the basis of our degree is understanding drugs and drug therapies. Whether that be regarding side effects and monitoring requirements or being able to critically assess expected medical outcomes and/or symptom management resulting from an illness.
I’ve had quite a few patients coming through the doors with newly diagnosed cancers, along with those who are further along their cancer journey.
I’m often asked about what it means to be at a certain ‘stage’ of cancer when someone is newly diagnosed, or they may ask questions about their diagnosis and the treatments that they are about to start.
I believe we play an important role in supporting people living with cancer within a community setting.
We can offer support, information, symptom and medication management services to ensure the patient’s needs are met during their journey.
What motivated you to join the Oncodemia programme?
As a pharmacist, your aim is to do what’s best for people in your community. I jump on any opportunity to broaden my clinical knowledge and improve the recommendations or advice I give.
This course has given me a better understanding of topics within the cancer journey that I may not have considered before.
Have there been any positive changes in the way you interact with patients since completing Oncodemia?
I am much more confident in my approach with patient queries regarding cancer.
For example, one side effect of radiotherapy I wouldn’t necessarily have known or considered prior to enrolling with Oncodemia is that it’s quite likely for patients to suffer a localised reaction akin to sunburn at the target site.
It has enabled me to offer guidance and reassurance that we know what they might be going through.
Since completing the course I believe my pharmacy has become an accessible and trusted environment to talk about cancer concerns, hopefully encouraging patients to come back and ask us for more help when needed.
It has also made me more effective when it comes to referrals to secondary care.
In the past, I would have been quicker to refer a patient to their cancer team or oncologist, but now I have the confidence to handle the more routine enquiries.
I know that I am not a cancer specialist, and I am aware of my limitations and subjects that are out of my scope, but I feel that the course has improved my partnership with my colleagues to ensure that the referrals are appropriate.
It also means patients who might be worried about bothering their oncology team or struggle to get an appointment are much more likely to come and talk to us and feel confident that we will be able to advise them on the most appropriate action to take.
That, in my eyes, makes better use of resources for the NHS and is much better for patient outcomes.
What would you say to other pharmacists interested in joining the Oncodemia programme?
Oncodemia is a really good resource that is easy to follow and has been developed in partnership with the Royal Marsden NHS Trust.
You can complete it at your own pace, whenever and wherever works for you.
It’s genuinely one of the best resources I’ve seen for any kind of cancer care. It doesn’t take long to do, it’s detailed, but it’s concise.
I have all my dispensers enrolled on the course as I don’t think the knowledge is only valuable to pharmacists and I am in talks with other branches who are interested in getting involved.
Ultimately, I would say what do you have to lose? It is another string to your bow and adding additional skills and knowledge is always beneficial.
Completing the course has given me a whole new perspective not only as a pharmacist but also on a personal level as it has enhanced my understanding of the cancer journey.