Many cancer treatments are now taken by mouth at home. 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. Keeping a steady routine matters as much as the tablet.
Make it a habit: take your tablet at the same time each day, keep a pill organiser, and set an alarm. 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.
To read more about day-to-day life on treatment, this practical guide explains what to expect in the first months.
Side effects to watch: hot flushes, joint stiffness and tiredness are website common with hormone tablets. Aromatase inhibitors can thin the bones, so many people have bone scans and advice on calcium and vitamin D. Tell your care team about 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 interrupts treatment. Generic versions 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.
There is more information in this guide.
This is general information, not medical advice. Always check with your oncology team before making any change.