What kind of support do cancer patients need?

Abstract

In September 2023, I was diagnosed with stage IV small bowel cancer and underwent two surgeries and six months of chemotherapy. Small bowel cancer is a rare type of cancer with no established standard treatments, causing significant anxiety and emotional struggles in treatment decisions. As a patient, I deeply realized the weight of words spoken by healthcare professionals and the critical importance of emotional support. Moreover, I experienced firsthand the prevalence of misinformation, including false claims from social media and acquaintances, highlighting the need for a reliable system that provides trustworthy cancer information and promotes health literacy among patients. Community pharmacies, due to their close psychological proximity to patients, are uniquely positioned to decipher complex medical information and deliver personalized guidance tailored to individual needs. By actively listening to patients and establishing systems for accurate cancer information dissemination, healthcare providers can offer meaningful care that supports patients throughout their treatment journey. This paper explores these perspectives and discusses the future direction of cancer patient support, emphasizing the importance of emotional care, reliable information sharing, and the vital role of pharmacies in achieving patient-centered care.