Supportive care of cancer patients illustrated by case examples.

Abstract

Despite important medical progress, supportive care still plays a central role in cancer therapy. Severe tumour- and therapy-related symptoms not only affect the patient’s quality of life, but can also compromise the therapy outcome. Therefore, an effective supportive care is crucial in cancer therapy. In community pharmacies as well as in hospital pharmacies pharmacists contribute essentially to supportive care through qualified advice and individual support. Case examples within the field of cytotoxic and targeted therapy provide insight into the management of nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, and papulopustular rash.