Over the past decade, the development of targeted therapies has significantly changed the way that chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is treated. Survival and life expectancy has improved, and this patient cohort is living and receiving treatment for longer than ever before. These changes have meant that the involvement of pharmacists across all sectors in the treatment of CLL patients has also evolved significantly.
In this episode of The PJ Pod, Caitlin Killen, assistant clinical editor, speaks to someone who has been living with CLL for 17 years, as well as with two pharmacists involved in the care of people with CLL, to understand how pharmacists can best support this patient group.
Many thanks to expert patient Anthea Holland; Catherine Parbutt, consultant pharmacist for cancer services at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; and Tejal Gorasia, principal cancer pharmacist at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, for their expertise.
This episode was produced by Geoff Marsh.
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Cancer learning ‘hub’
Pharmacists are playing an increasingly important role in supporting patients with cancer, working within multidisciplinary teams and improving outcomes.
However, in a rapidly evolving field with numbers of new cancer medicines is increasing and the potential for adverse effects, it is now more important than ever for pharmacists to have a solid understanding of the principles of cancer biology, its diagnosis and approaches to treatment and prevention.
This new collection of cancer content, brought to you in partnership with BeOne Medicines, provides access to educational resources that support professional development for improved patient
Useful resources
- ‘Because people are less likely to understand what is wrong with them’, Blood Cancer UK;
- ‘BTK inhibitors: what pharmacists need to know’, The Pharmaceutical Journal;
- ‘Shingles vaccination programme: changes from September 2023 letter’, UK Health Security Agency and NHS England;
- ‘Let’s communicate cancer’, the British Oncology Pharmacy Association;
- CLL Support Association;
- ‘Support ACT’, CLL Support.
