Chemotherapy

The management of cancer patients requiring surgery requires special consideration. Surgery may be related to the cancer diagnosis / treatment (e.g. neo-adjuvant chemotherapy before oesophagectomy or radiologically inserted gastrostomy (RIG) insertion for a patient receiving treatment for head and neck cancer) or it may be unrelated.

The patient’s Oncologist / Haematologist should be involved in the planning for surgery for these patients and advice sought from specialist oncology Pharmacists where appropriate. This multidisciplinary input is required as it may be necessary to schedule surgery around treatment cycles, delay treatment cycles or even omit doses.