In this month’s issue of The Oncology Pharmacist (TOP), we explore the growth of specialty pharmacies and the implications for our relationship with patients. Author Lea Ann Hansen discusses the evolution of specialty pharmacy and the function it serves in the treatment of cancer and how this affects patients. As Hansen points out in her article, “In many cases, the complicated nature of administration or possible adverse events with specialty drugs necessitate intensive patient monitoring.”
The topic of The Patient’s Voice article revolves around a patient’s complicated relationship with her oncology drugs. MMA writes about “popping pills and shooting up” at home. While not directly acknowledging adherence, MMA shows us how difficult it is to ensure that patients take medications as prescribed. In our reader survey poll, we ask how you talk to patients about adherence. Go to www.TheOncologyPharmacist.com and tell us how you try to help patients like MMA overcome their emotional reactions to taking (or not taking) their medications.
We continue our coverage of the news from the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology by addressing the topic of mucositis—noting that the advent of personalized cancer medicine also means personalizing supportive care issues as well.
As always, we want to hear from you about what you see in TOP. Contact us at editorial@greenhillhc.com.
