Practical Tips for Long-Term Hormone Therapy

Practical Tips for Long-Term Hormone Therapy

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A growing number of cancer treatments are now daily tablets. Tamoxifen, letrozole and anastrozole are often taken for five years or more after breast cancer, and generic 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, use a weekly pill box, and set an alarm. If you miss a dose, check the patient 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, see this patient-friendly guide walks through the essentials.

What you may notice: 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 advice on calcium and vitamin D. Report chest pain, sudden breathlessness, leg swelling or unusual bleeding promptly.

Plan your supply. Reorder when you still have two or three weeks of tablets left, so a delay never causes a gap. Generic versions contain the same active ingredient as the check here brands and can make long-term treatment more affordable. A valid prescription is required for every order of a prescription medicine.

There is more information on this page.

This article is for general information only. Always check with your oncology team before making any change.

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