Pharmacy teams have an “important role” in supporting prostate cancer patients and managing treatment side effects, the British Oncology Pharmacy Association (BOPA) has said.
A study published on September 4 has revealed that a structured exercise and wellbeing programme can help mitigate “distressing” side effects of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), used to treat patients with prostate cancer.
The study analysed 700 men undergoing ADT. Some 389 of these men were assigned to the STAMINA lifestyle intervention trial which involved both aerobic and resistance exercise, alongside dietary advice and behavioural support, while the remaining 311 men remained on an “optimised usual care” pathway.
“Superior mitigation” of symptoms
It found that those on the STAMINA trial experienced a “clinically meaningful” change in quality of life across their “physical, functional, emotional and family and social” domains and saw a “superior mitigation” in the symptoms associated with ADT.
Researchers said the findings suggest that a programme like the STAMINA trial could benefit patients if “integrated into core cancer care across the UK”.
“Above and beyond”
The British Oncology Pharmacy Association (BOPA) said it welcomed the findings of the STAMINA trial, “which provide strong evidence that exercise, dietary advice and behavioural support can significantly improve quality of life” for patients receiving ADT.
“Pharmacy professionals have an important role in supporting people living with prostate cancer and managing the side effects of ADT,” it added.
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It said community pharmacists “are often the most accessible healthcare professionals for patients and can provide advice on medicines, fatigue management, healthy lifestyle choices, weight management, smoking cessation and cardiovascular risk reduction”.
“They can also help identify patients who may benefit from additional support services and signpost to exercise, wellbeing and cancer support programmes.”
Co-chair of BOPA’s community and primary care sub-committee Connor Corbett said that “community and primary care pharmacy teams already regularly contribute above and beyond the specific interventions included in the STAMINA trial”.
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But he added that for the sector to “fully facilitate the wider implementation of the STAMINA programme and maximise the patient gains it promises, it is absolutely vital that a robust supportive infrastructure is developed”.
“This means ensuring pharmacists have dedicated cancer focused funding, integrated digital health records to track patient progress and formal, protected time to deliver these critical quality-of-life interventions effectively and closer to the patients home.”
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It comes after the NHS launched “heartburn tests” across five pharmacies in the East Midlands in April.
Forming part of the NHS Cancer Programme, the test is aimed at people over the age of 45 experiencing persistent heartburn or acid reflux.
