Establishing Self-Care Plans For Treatment

During this segment, Genevieve Kumapley, PharmD, BCOP, discusses the significance of introducing a self-care plan to patients who are undergoing cancer treatment.

“There is a value in helping the patient understand what their anticipated side effects are, when to expect them, and how to manage them,” says Dr Kumapley, who notes the importance of proper planning in an era in which oral oncolytics have become primary treatment options.

Dr Kumapley remarks that if established at the beginning of treatment, a self-care plan has the potential to improve overall patient adherence. Currently, she notes, nonadherence rates are up to 30% in patients who are treated with oral oncolytics.

Self-care plans can have a significant impact on the patient’s likelihood of experiencing severe symptoms and can help decrease unnecessary healthcare resource utilization, adds Dr Kumapley.