A shared fight against cancer: the complementary roles of oncology physicians and oncology pharmacists

Over the last decades, antineoplastic treatment has made significant progress and has clearly contributed to the benefit of patients with cancer. As it can be seen in all aspects of life, however, there is a second side of the coin showing us that these achievements have not been without unwanted effects on the patient, the public and those working on the oncology ward. Whereas oncology physicians try to reduce the harm from neoplastic disease, oncology pharmacists try to reduce the harm from antineoplastic therapy. The first European Conference of Oncology Pharmacy in Budapest, Hungary, from 27 to 29 September with nearly 500 participants demonstrated that pharmacists can make significant contributions in many different ways.