Physician’s Weekly (PW) spoke with Yvette C. Terrie, BS Pharm, RPh, consultant pharmacist, to gain insight into why pharmacists are a crucial part of the care team for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PW: What responsibilities do pharmacists have in managing NSCLC-targeted therapy treatment options?

Terrie: Pharmacists are integral in ensuring the proper preparation, administration, handling, and storage of NSCLC-targeted therapies. Pharmacists are also instrumental in identifying key drug/drug interactions and contraindications, ensuring that prescribers and patients know potential warnings and precautions, and identifying and managing potential adverse drug reactions associated with these therapies. Through medication therapy management, pharmacists can also ensure that medications are dosed appropriately and make recommendations when changes are warranted.

How do pharmacists provide emotional and practical support to patients and their families throughout NSCLC treatment?

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is associated with enormous physical, psychological, emotional, and financial burdens, and in addition to medication, emotional support is an integral component of care. Due to their frequent encounters with patients, pharmacists are well-poised to direct patients to the various support resources available, including information about NSCLC, potential drug therapies, and cost savings programs. Pharmacists can also encourage patients to take an active role in their care, maintain routine care from their oncologist, and adhere to the recommended treatment plan. Pharmacists can engage patients in conversation to assess their goals for treatment, assess their response to therapy, address any concerns, and help patients during the challenging journey as they receive treatment.

How do pharmacists advocate for patients in treatment decisions in the community setting?

Due to frequent encounters with patients, pharmacists often act as patient educators and advocates and may also identify patients at risk for and/or exhibiting signs of NSCLC and encourage these patients to seek further medical evaluation from their primary healthcare provider. Pharmacists are also well poised to identify patients who may be ideal candidates for certain therapies and/or enrollment in clinical trials. Patient counseling is an integral component of health care, and through patient education, patients can make informed decisions about their health. Pharmacists can also direct patients to resources that are often sponsored by manufacturing companies that may expand patient access and affordability to medications. During counseling, pharmacists can encourage patients to discuss concerns with the primary healthcare provider and take an active role in their care.