Back
"The findings are concerning because not taking a full course of medication could impact on how effective a treatment will be," lead author Louise Atkins, from the University of Sussex in the UK, commented.
Her team conducted one-to-one interviews with 131 women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer at least 2 years earlier and were now receiving at least one chemotherapy or hormone treatment for the disease.
As reported in the European Journal of Cancer, 72 of the women stated that they sometimes failed to take their medication. Although 60 of the patients said that they forgot to take their drugs, 12 patients admitted that they had deliberately chosen not to comply with treatment.
"Reasons for not taking medication include difficulty swallowing tablets and the side effects of medication," Atkins explained.
"If we can understand more about the reasons why some women don't take their medications, then we'll be in a better position to help women overcome these difficulties," she postulated.
Commenting on the findings, John Toy, medical director of the charity Cancer Research UK, said: "It is important that women are as well informed as possible about both the benefits and side effects of their medication and so know what to expect.
"Clear communication can help to ensure that doctors are better informed about how women are dealing with their treatment so as to help reduce any negative impact that treatments might have."
Eur J Cancer 2006; Not yet available online
http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ejc
© 2008 CMG
Rate articleComment article
23 August 2006
Poor breast cancer patient medication compliance highlighted
The majority of breast cancer patients miss taking their treatment, with one in six deliberately choosing to do so, a study of UK patients suggests."The findings are concerning because not taking a full course of medication could impact on how effective a treatment will be," lead author Louise Atkins, from the University of Sussex in the UK, commented.
Her team conducted one-to-one interviews with 131 women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer at least 2 years earlier and were now receiving at least one chemotherapy or hormone treatment for the disease.
As reported in the European Journal of Cancer, 72 of the women stated that they sometimes failed to take their medication. Although 60 of the patients said that they forgot to take their drugs, 12 patients admitted that they had deliberately chosen not to comply with treatment.
"Reasons for not taking medication include difficulty swallowing tablets and the side effects of medication," Atkins explained.
"If we can understand more about the reasons why some women don't take their medications, then we'll be in a better position to help women overcome these difficulties," she postulated.
Commenting on the findings, John Toy, medical director of the charity Cancer Research UK, said: "It is important that women are as well informed as possible about both the benefits and side effects of their medication and so know what to expect.
"Clear communication can help to ensure that doctors are better informed about how women are dealing with their treatment so as to help reduce any negative impact that treatments might have."
Eur J Cancer 2006; Not yet available online
http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ejc
© 2008 CMG
Rate articleComment article
Page last updated 2006-08-23
Top of page
Sign in
Information for
This is an AstraZeneca International website. This site is not intended for US or UK citizens, investors, journalists or patients who should use the
- following links:
- US audience
- UK audience
- Investors
- Journalists
- Patients