Living With Long-Term Cancer Tablets

Living With Long-Term Cancer Tablets

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Several common cancer medicines are now daily tablets. Letrozole, anastrozole and tamoxifen are often taken for five years or more after breast cancer, and imatinib is taken every day for chronic myeloid leukaemia. That makes routine and supply just as important as the medicine itself.

Build a simple routine: take your tablet at the same time each day, keep a pill organiser, 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 generic imatinib taken once a week, not daily.

To read more about day-to-day life on treatment, read the full guide here covers routines, side effects and questions for your oncologist.

Common side effects: hot flushes, joint stiffness and tiredness are common with hormone tablets. Letrozole and anastrozole can reduce bone density, so many people have bone scans and regular check-ups. Tell your care team about chest pain, sudden breathlessness, leg swelling or unusual bleeding straight away.

Never run out. Reorder when you still have two or three weeks of tablets left, so a delay never interrupts treatment. Generic tablets contain the same active ingredient as the brands and can make long-term treatment more affordable. A valid prescription is required for every order of a prescription medicine.

You can read more in this article.

This is general information, not medical advice. Always check with your oncology team before making any change.

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