Patient’s experiences of anticancer therapy and opportunities for community pharmacists to support patients with cancer. Fiona MacLean1, Alexander Mullen2, Richard Lowrie1 and Anne Boyter2 1NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde; 2University of Strathclyde Introduction Cancer treatments are mostly given in an out-patient or day case unit. Patients spend the interval between treatments at home without specialist support. Toxicity from systemic anticancer therapy (SACT) can occur late and patients must be supported to manage toxicity between cycles. But do we know how patients cope at home and what additional medicines they buy or are prescribed? Innovative models of care might involve community pharmacists. To scope this, an investigation of patient’s experiences between SACT cycles was needed to understand how patients cope and what they do if they need help and support. Results Patient reported toxicity and problems with medicines between SACT cycles and the sources of advice used were identified (Charts 2 and 3). Medicines purchased between cycles included cough medicines, analgesics, laxatives, mouth products and dyspepsia medicines. Medicines prescribed between cycles included the above and antibiotics, sertraline, ramipril and multiple skin products. All patients agreed that their hospital clinical information could be shared with and used by community pharmacists. 75% attended the same community pharmacy 37% said that a community pharmacist could offer support during SACT Patients were asked what would you like a community pharmacist to do to help support you during cancer treatment? Their replies included: Chart 2: Toxicity & problems between SACT cycles Chart 3: Advice provider Aim To understand for a population of patients receiving SACT: What - if any- toxicity is experienced between cycles Who patients seek advice from Do patients need medicines between SACT cycles Is there a role for community pharmacists in supporting patients who are receiving SACT Method A questionnaire was given to adults patients attending the New Victoria Hospital (Glasgow) for SACT for breast, lung, urology or haemato-oncology cancers. Convenience sampling was used. Data collection took place between November 2014 - May 2015 Data were analysed using Excel® Results 112 questionnaires were issued and 68 were returned (60.7%). Patients could enter their name and date of birth or remain anonymous. The age range was 43-84 years. All patients had received at least one cycle of SACT. A variety of regimens were used to treat a number of tumour types (Chart 1). “Management of side effects Prescribe for diarrhoea/constipation Just advice if required To know you have cancer & having chemo A professional to phone or visit To be aware of the drugs I take and offer advice about how other drugs will affect me” Chart 1: Breakdown of tumour types Conclusion Suitably trained community pharmacists are ideally placed to support safe and effective self management of common, non-complex SACT toxicity Hospital teams should seek out ways of sharing patient information with colleagues in primary care Hospital teams should educate patients to seek advice from their community pharmacist for non-complex toxicity management Acknowledgements Thanks to all the patients who completed the questionnaire.