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Older cancer patients often take ten or more medicines, some of which no longer help and may interact with cancer treatment. A pharmacist review to stop unnecessary ones, at diagnosis and when goals change, would reduce harm.
Polypharmacy is common in older patients with cancer and is associated with toxicity, falls, and hospitalisation. Preventive medicines with long time-to-benefit (statins in limited prognosis, tight glycaemic control, bisphosphonates for osteoporosis in the last year of life) can be stopped. Evidence-based deprescribing algorithms exist for many drug classes. A protocolised pharmacist-led review at two defined points would apply them systematically.
Shares Older and multimorbid patients are excluded and undertreated, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued.
Shares Older and multimorbid patients are excluded and undertreated, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued.
Shares Older and multimorbid patients are excluded and undertreated, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued.
Shares Older and multimorbid patients are excluded and undertreated, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued.
Shares Older and multimorbid patients are excluded and undertreated, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued.
Shares Older and multimorbid patients are excluded and undertreated, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued.
Shares Older and multimorbid patients are excluded and undertreated, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued.
Shares Older and multimorbid patients are excluded and undertreated, Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued.