Polypharmacy: The human side of prescribing

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked reality of polypharmacy - when people with cancer are managing multiple medications alongside other long-term conditions. With up to 70% of people living with cancer also living with another condition, the impact goes far beyond prescriptions. Joining us are Lelly Oboh, Consultant Pharmacist in Care of Older People, and Sheetal Ladva, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s Clinical Fellow, who share real-world insights on medication burden, overprescribing, and the power of person-centred care. Through patient stories and practical advice, they unpack how healthcare professionals can reduce complexity, improve quality of life, and have better conversations about medicines. Who this episode is for:   🟢 Health and social care professionals   🟢 People affected by cancer   🟢 Anyone interested in innovations in cancer care  Links from the episode: 🔗 https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a... 🔗 https://www.gov.uk/government/publica... 🔗 https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/under... Further information on polypharmacy: 🔗 https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/under... This includes resources , tools, videos and podcasts to support medication reviews 🔗 https://thehealthinnovationnetwork.co... 🔗 https://www.rightdecisions.scot.nhs.u... 🔗 https://www.bgs.org.uk/older-adult-ph... This episode aligns with Macmillan's strategic objective to offer more personal support to people affected by cancer and other health conditions. Read more about Macmillan’s strategy via this link https://www.macmillan.org.uk/about-us.... 🎧 Learn more about the podcast series https://www.macmillan.org.uk/healthca... Chapters 00:10 Why polypharmacy matters in cancer care 01:44 Welcome and introductions to guests 06:07 What is polypharmacy? 06:45 It’s not about the number of medicines 07:20 Appropriate vs Inappropriate polypharmacy 08:30 The scale of cancer and long-term conditions 09:15 Overprescribing and problematic polypharmacy 13:30 Real-world complexity 15:05 The carer experience and daily burden 19:30 When medication management becomes overwhelming 23:20 Balancing quality of life and treatment priorities 24:30 Person-centred care: having better conversations 33:00 Final reflections