Cancer
Beyond Dispensing: The Expanding Role of Community Pharmacists in Cancer Care
For many Malaysians, the community pharmacist is often one of the most accessible healthcare professionals they interact with.
While pharmacists have traditionally been associated with dispensing medication, their role has evolved significantly over the years. Today, they play a much broader role in helping patients navigate complex health conditions, better understand their treatment and connect them to the support they need throughout their healthcare journey.
Cancer care is one of the clearest examples of this evolution.
Beyond dispensing medication, community pharmacists are increasingly helping patients make sense of treatment plans, navigate practical challenges and access the wider support they need throughout their cancer journey.[1] Through BIG CARING Group’s Ribbon of Hope initiative, this evolving role reflects a broader commitment to supporting patients beyond treatment alone.
Making Sense of Cancer Care
“We are no longer just dispensing medicines. We are helping patients decode their cancer journey.”
That simple statement reflects how the role of community pharmacists has changed in recent years.
A cancer diagnosis often comes with an overwhelming amount of information. Between consultations, treatment plans and medication regimens, patients and caregivers are expected to absorb complex medical advice while adapting to a new reality. It is not uncommon for questions to arise only after they have left the clinic.
Community pharmacists help bridge that gap by translating complex medical information into practical, everyday guidance that patients and caregivers can confidently act on. Whether it is explaining how medications should be taken, discussing potential side effects or helping patients better understand what comes next, pharmacists provide an accessible source of support between specialist appointments.1
The Questions Patients Ask Between Appointments
What begins as a routine medication collection often becomes a broader conversation.
Patients may seek advice on changes in appetite, energy levels, altered taste or managing treatment side effects, while pharmacists help reinforce medication counselling, identify potential drug interactions and advise when further medical attention may be needed.
For colorectal cancer patients living with a stoma, pharmacists can also provide guidance on the use of stoma care products and help identify concerns such as skin irritation or appliance fitting issues. These conversations often give patients the confidence to seek timely medical advice before minor concerns become more significant.
Sometimes, patients do not realise that what they are experiencing may require further medical attention until they mention it during what they thought would be a routine pharmacy visit. A conversation that begins with collecting medication may end with a recommendation to return to their treating doctor, helping potential concerns to be addressed earlier.
Cancer treatment can place considerable financial strain on patients and their families, particularly when long-term medications are involved. Community pharmacists often help patients navigate patient assistance programmes, identify available support and access more affordable treatment options, including Rahmah pricing initiatives for selected high-cost cancer medications where applicable.
By helping patients overcome both practical and financial barriers, pharmacists play an important role in supporting treatment adherence and continuity of care.
Connecting Patients to the Right Support
“Cancer care is never one professional’s effort. It’s a shared responsibility across disciplines.”
Cancer care often requires the expertise of multiple healthcare professionals, each supporting different aspects of a patient’s treatment and recovery.
Community pharmacists may not lead cancer treatment, but they are often among the healthcare professionals patients and caregivers interact with most frequently. That regular contact allows them to recognise when additional support may be beneficial.[1]
For example, when a pharmacist hears about a patient struggling to maintain their nutrition during treatment, the pharmacist may encourage the patient or caregiver to to seek support from a dietitian alongside their treating doctor. At the same time, other concerns can be directed back to the appropriate healthcare provider before they become more significant. [2]
Rather than working in isolation, pharmacists help strengthen the wider healthcare ecosystem by ensuring patients receive coordinated support throughout their treatment journey.
Bringing Care Closer to the Community
Accessibility remains one of the greatest strengths of community pharmacy. Located within neighbourhoods and available without appointments, community pharmacies make it easier for patients and caregivers to seek timely advice, clarify concerns and receive ongoing support throughout their healthcare journey.
Community pharmacists also play an important role in prevention. Through collaborations with organisations such as the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM), National Cancer Council (MAKNA), Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur DiRaja and the Colorectal Cancer Survivorship Society Malaysia (CORUM), they help connect communities to breast, prostate and colorectal cancer screening initiatives while encouraging greater awareness of early detection.
Through Ribbon of Hope, BIG CARING Group continues to strengthen this community-based approach to cancer care by improving access to affordable medications, rehabilitation support and trusted healthcare guidance, helping ensure patients and families receive support throughout every stage of the cancer journey.
REFERENCES:
Egbewande OM, Abdulwasiu MA, Yusuf RO, Durojaye AB, Ashimiyu-Abdulsalam ZI. Roles of community pharmacists in cancer management. Innov Pharm. 2022;13(3):4946. doi:10.24926/iip.v13i3.4946.
Ryding HG, Mitchell LJ, Rigby RR, Ball L, Hobby J, Williams LT. Effectiveness of dietetic care for cancer survivors in the primary care setting: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Cancer Surviv. 2025;19(5):1694-1725. doi:10.1007/s11764-024-01583-6
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