{"id":16638,"date":"2020-11-05T14:05:03","date_gmt":"2020-11-05T19:05:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=16638"},"modified":"2024-01-11T12:25:09","modified_gmt":"2024-01-11T17:25:09","slug":"medication-management-for-cancer-patients-and-caretakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medication-management-for-cancer-patients-and-caretakers\/","title":{"rendered":"Medication management for cancer patients and caretakers"},"content":{"rendered":"

For cancer patients, medication can be a critical aspect of treatment and recovery. Patients often work with a healthcare team who can prescribe the most appropriate medications based on factors like the severity of the cancer, symptoms, and patient preferences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since a patient may be on many medications at once and deal with frequent changes to the treatment plan, it\u2019s important to carefully track <\/span>medicine storage and dosage<\/span><\/a>. Medications work best when taken in the proper doses at the correct times. This guide offers helpful tips for how to manage medication tasks, along with key things to keep in mind when it comes to cancer medication.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the 5 R\u2019s for medication safety?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Caregivers who follow the <\/span>5 Rights of Medication Administration <\/span><\/a>will be the most effective at keeping cancer patients safe and healthy. These are the same steps followed by the care professionals at a clinic or hospital.<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Right drug<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Right dose<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Right time<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Right route<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Right person<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Right drug<\/span><\/h3>\n

    If you\u2019re a patient administering a drug, first make sure you\u2019re using the correct one. Look at the pill bottle, then read the name of the drug out loud.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Right dose<\/span><\/h3>\n

    A common cause of dangerous adverse drug events is giving an improper dose. This mistake usually happens when caregivers misread or mismeasure the proper amount.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Right time<\/span><\/h3>\n

    A medication plan will only be successful <\/span>if the proper medication is given at the right time<\/span><\/a>. One of the best solutions is a written medication schedule.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Right route<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Cancer medications<\/span><\/a> can be administered as pills, liquids, topical treatments rubbed on the skin, and injectable treatments. Injectable treatments include intravenous (IV) infusions or injections through the vein, intramuscular (IM) injections into the muscle, and subcutaneous (SQ) injections under the skin. Follow the directions given with the medication, and ask for help if you feel you need it.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Right person<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Pill bottles can look very similar. As a last step before administering the medication, look again at the medication to make sure it\u2019s being administered to the right person.<\/span><\/p>\n

    General tips for effective cancer medication management<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Two important strategies<\/span><\/a> will help you give medication safely throughout the treatment process: keeping a medication list and storing medication properly. Medication storage and handling is especially important because some treatments may be hazardous.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Medication list<\/span><\/h3>\n

    A medication list is a critical document that will be consulted by patients, caregivers, pharmacists, and doctors. Make sure to add any supplements or over-the-counter medications to the list in addition to prescribed medications.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The medication list should include the name of the medication, the dosage or how the medication is taken when treatment with the medication began, and any concerns such as side effects experienced.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Safe storage and organization<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Cancer medications are powerful and very dangerous if taken by the wrong person or handled improperly.<\/span><\/p>\n

    If anyone at home is at risk of accidentally ingesting them (like a child, <\/span>other family members, or a<\/span> pet), make sure to store the pills in a high place they cannot reach. You may also want to invest in a pill lockbox. <\/span>Do not store cancer medications in the bathroom<\/span><\/a>\u2014the humidity can lessen their effectiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Ideally, only the person who is taking the medication will touch it. If a caregiver needs to handle the medication, they should only do so while wearing gloves.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Hazardous at-home medications<\/span><\/h3>\n

    If any of the medication being taken at home is hazardous, such as chemotherapy drugs like doxorubicin or vincristine, <\/span>caregivers will need to take additional safety steps<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Caregivers should be given special kits with instructions and materials for cleaning spills and special containers for disposing of hazardous medications.<\/span><\/p>\n

    These medications can still be present in dangerous amounts in bodily fluids, such as urine, blood, saliva, etc. If any of these fluids are present on the patient\u2019s bed sheets, towels, or clothes, handle them with disposable medical gloves, and wash the soiled fabrics in hot water separately from other laundry.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Special care should be taken when using the toilet. For 48 hours after an injection or IV treatment, the patient should flush the toilet twice after use, wash their hands well, and cleanse any body parts that have urine or feces on them. <\/span>Be careful when handling and throwing away disposable undergarments<\/span>. The toilet water could still contain trace amounts of hazardous chemicals, so children and pets should be kept away from the bathroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Powerful cancer drugs, like any medication, must be taken at the proper time in order to be the most effective. Missing scheduled dosing times completely or taking pills at the wrong time could be dangerous.<\/span><\/p>\n

    To make sure you administer all pills at the proper time, set reminder alarms on an alarm clock or timer. If you have a smartphone, consider using an <\/span>app designed for medication management<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    It\u2019s also a good idea to write down the daily medication plan on a sheet of paper. A physical list can be easily copied and shared with other caregivers and health aides, and you don\u2019t have to worry about phone compatibility or a data outage making the medication plan inaccessible. <\/span>It can easily be tucked into the inside pocket of a purse or wallet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Having a record of daily medications is also very helpful at follow-up appointments with the patient\u2019s care team. These appointments are the ideal time to discuss adjustments in medication timing that may help reduce side effects experienced. You may discuss moving the timing of a treatment dose closer to a mealtime, for instance, or further away from bedtime. These are just examples. Never make any changes to a medication plan without first discussing them with the assigned care team.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Understanding the prescription bottle label<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Typically, a prescription label has eight parts and types of information. Keep in mind that your own prescription labels may look somewhat different, but they will generally have similar content listed for you to reference. Learn to recognize these parts on medications.<\/span>
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