February 4th marks World Cancer Awareness Day. This day urges people all over the world to come together to “Close the care gap” and ensure everyone has access to the resources necessary to minimize the negative impact of cancer. While this day is important to bring awareness to the cause, cancer is a daily reality for many Canadians. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, 2 in every 5 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
To do our part, we want you to know your pharmacist can help in minimizing barriers and ensuring you receive the best care.
Following a cancer diagnosis, you will likely have a team of health professionals who work to provide you with the care you need. While preparing for, or undergoing treatment and managing side-effects, your Pace pharmacist can support you in many ways:
- Medication review and counselling: Before you start any cancer treatments, or experience symptoms, you may already be on medication or supplements for other reasons. Your pharmacist can review what you are currently taking, as well as educate you about any drug interactions and side effects. They can also counsel you in managing side effects of treatment by suggesting over-the-counter medications or supplements that may be helpful. Don’t hesitate to talk to your pharmacist about how you’re tolerating your medications and treatments.
- Support with medication administration: Cancer treatments can have many physical side-effects. Your appetite, ability to swallow, and even your memory to take medications may be affected. Your pharmacist can provide solutions to help you maintain your medication schedule and find the best way of taking your medications. A compounding pharmacy can further tailor your medication delivery to suit your personal needs when possible, for example compounding into different doses, or changing the taste to make medication more palatable.
- Providing easier access to your medication: Side effects from treatment can make it difficult to complete daily tasks. Pace Pharmacy can deliver medication to your door. Contact us at Pace for more information on how we can simplify the process of getting your prescriptions and take one thing off your list.
- Helping you navigate: With any illness, navigating the medical system can be daunting. Your pharmacist can help with understanding funding sources for medication. They may also have connections to other health care professionals who can support your physical and mental health needs while you are living with cancer. Need help? Just ask.
You are not alone on your journey with cancer. At Pace, we pride ourselves in going the extra mile for our patients. Connect with one of our pharmacists and find out how we can walk alongside you and be a part of your healthcare team.
