By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    bowl of vegetable salad
    Raw Foods: benefits and harms
    November 9, 2021
    pros and cons of the keto diet
    Read This Before You Follow the Keto Diet
    May 18, 2022
    spinal cord injuries
    4 Potential Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries (and How to Seek Compensation)
    May 25, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Striking Back at the Drug Abuse Epidemic [VIDEO]
    December 19, 2013
    The basics of getting health insurance
    The Basics of Getting Health Insurance
    June 13, 2022
    Finally: An FDA (Draft) Guidance for Social Media in Medical Marketing
    January 21, 2014
    Latest News
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Why Would Cancer Patients Skip Life Saving Pills?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Why Would Cancer Patients Skip Life Saving Pills?
Specialties

Why Would Cancer Patients Skip Life Saving Pills?

Andrew Schorr
Last updated: June 26, 2013 8:08 am
Andrew Schorr
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

gleevecA medical marvel broke new ground in cancer in 2001 – now there are concerns because some patients aren’t taking advantage of it.

gleevecA medical marvel broke new ground in cancer in 2001 – now there are concerns because some patients aren’t taking advantage of it.

Dr. Brian Druker from Oregon Health and Science University’s Knight Cancer Institute led the development of the first targeted therapy that took on cancer at a genetic level in 2001.The introduction of Imatinib, or Gleevec, for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), changed the diagnosis from a terminal illness to a chronic condition for most patients. It was groundbreaking cancer therapy – instead of traditional chemotherapy regimens patients would take a pill to extend and save their lives. Since then many other targeted oral therapies have been developed for other cancers, and more are on the way.

They aren’t perfect. There are side effects, as with any powerful medicine. They are expensive. And there are often special instructions as to whether or how soon you can eat when you take the pill and even what you can eat or drink. Add to that that these drugs give many patients the ability to resume their lives while living with cancer – they move forward to really live, work, and have a future. So some people just forget to take their pills. They are feeling good and busy living.

More Read

Henderson Cosmetic Dentist Marielaina Perrone DDS
Antibiotic Guidelines For Dental Patients
5 Self-Care Strategies For Dealing With Sugar Level Stress
Are Cutting Edge New Depression Therapies Key To Improving Treatment?
How To Address Neck and Back Pain
The Connected Elderly: Improving Their Health

Gleevec was in the vanguard of oral medicine for cancer, pills one might take for life. New oral therapies are in the pipeline that show promise for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, lymphoma and myeloproliferative conditions. There are “small molecules” for solid cancers too. So with these new pills, sometimes ones the FDA even labels “breakthroughs”, why would some patients not take them as prescribed?

Giora-at-EHA-2013-for-blogWe got some answers, in a study developed and run by patients themselves, at the recent meeting of the European Hematology Association in Stockholm. The CML Advocates Network, which is made up of patient organizations from 60 countries, conducted a survey of about 2,600 CML patients to query them about their “adherence” to their medicine. My interview with study leader Giora Sharf, an Israeli with CML and on one of the medicines, gives you the study highlights. But basically, some people forget, others are not clear how taking the medicine as prescribed is essential every day, and some hate being reminded with each pill that they have cancer. It’s complicated and, as the study notes, it’s vitally important we all figure out how to promote adherence as the number of people taking oral cancer medicines is about to explode. What tools are needed? What new communication strategies need to be in place so these therapies are used effectively?

The CML Advocates Network, a Patient Power partner, is commended for leading the way in investigating this and the EHA is commended for featuring patient research on their world stage. As for me, I’m on a twice a day pill for myelofibrosis. I take it as soon as I get up, and an alarm triggers my favorite song to play on my phone to remind me at 10 pm every night to take dose number two. I don’t view it as a reminder about cancer. I view it as essential for another day of feeling good. That’s what works for me, and I hope others will also find the right ways to make this work for them.

As always, I welcome your comments.

Wishing you the best of health!

Andrew

 

TAGGED:cancerpharma
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025
How Therapy Can Improve Your Mental Health and Daily Life
How Therapy Can Improve Your Mental Health and Daily Life
Mental Health
June 18, 2025
healthcare facilities
Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
Global Healthcare Infographics
June 15, 2025
from gut to glow
From Plate to Wellness: How Everyday Foods Nourish Your Body Inside and Out
Dental health Infographics Specialties
June 15, 2025

You Might also Like

Specialties

5 Simple Tips For Living With a Hernia

January 5, 2019
senior living model
Geriatrics

Boomer Voice: Building an Innovative Senior Living Model in Jiangsu Province, China

June 26, 2013
SpecialtiesWellness

5 Reasons Why You Need to Pay Attention to Growth Hormone Level

June 30, 2017

American urologists express increased interest in focused ultrasound

June 23, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?