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. Keeping a steady routine matters as much as the tablet.
Small habits help: take your tablet at the same time each day, use a weekly pill box, and set an alarm. If you miss a dose, follow your leaflet and never take two at once. Weekly methotrexate is the exception: get more info for arthritis and psoriasis it is taken once a week, not daily.
To read more about day-to-day life on treatment, read the full guide here walks through the essentials.
Side effects to watch: hot flushes, joint stiffness and tiredness are common with hormone tablets. Letrozole and anastrozole can thin the bones, so many people have bone scans and regular check-ups. Tell your care team about chest pain, sudden breathlessness, leg swelling or unusual bleeding promptly.
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 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 article is for general information only. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before starting any medicine.