Staying on Track With Daily Cancer Medicines

Several common cancer medicines are now taken by mouth at home. Letrozole, anastrozole and tamoxifen are often taken for five years or more after breast cancer, and get more info imatinib is taken every day for chronic myeloid leukaemia. Keeping a steady routine matters as much as the tablet.

Build a simple routine: take your tablet at the same time each day, use a weekly pill box, and set a phone reminder. If you miss a dose, follow your leaflet and never take two at once. Methotrexate is different: for arthritis and psoriasis it is taken once a week, not daily.

For more practical tips, this practical guide explains what to expect in the first months.

Common side effects: hot flushes, joint stiffness and tiredness are common with hormone tablets. Aromatase inhibitors can reduce bone density, so many people have bone scans and advice on calcium and vitamin D. Report chest pain, sudden breathlessness, leg swelling or unusual bleeding straight away.

Order ahead. Reorder when you still have two or three weeks of tablets left, so a delay never causes a gap. Generic tablets contain the same active ingredient as the brands and usually cost far less. A valid prescription is required for every order of a prescription medicine.

More detail is available in this article.

This is general information, not medical advice. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before starting any medicine.