2023-09-01 01:11:09
40% stopped taking it early due to side effects such as depression, and 30% did not take it regularly… Urgent countermeasures
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There are many cases in which patients who have undergone breast cancer surgery do not take prescription drugs properly due to various side effects. Measures to prevent cancer recurrence and spread of cancer cells are urgently needed. Are there any tricks for patients to be able to take their medicines without hesitation?[사진=게티이미지뱅크]About 80% of survivors who have been treated and recovered from breast cancer do not end with surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Doctors recommend that they take sex hormone-blocking drugs for the next 5 to 10 years, which can cause tumor growth and recurrence.
Examples include the estrogen blocker Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. This reduces the risk of cancer recurrence by 50% in patients with ‘hormone receptor positive tumor (HR+)’, the most common breast cancer. Despite these benefits, about 40% of breast cancer survivors stop taking the drug early, and about 30% do not follow directions and do not take the drug regularly. It has many side effects such as depression.
However, a study has found that active intervention by the attending physician can increase the degree to which these breast cancer survivors are willing to take their medications (drug adherence) by about 50%.
A research team at the University of Colorado at Boulder in the United States announced that this was the result of an analysis of 25 related studies. About 368,000 women were included in the study.
“We have identified an effective strategy to help breast cancer survivors stay on sex hormone blockers to live longer without recurrence,” said study lead author Joanna Arch, a neuroscience professor.
“It’s these drugs that go from normal estrogen to little or no estrogen in a matter of days,” she says. It is difficult because there are not a few side effects, but if you take the medicine as prescribed, the recurrence rate of breast cancer is low and you can live longer. It is a serious dilemma,” he explained.
Doctor-prescribed estrogen blockers are expensive and can cause a host of side effects, including depression, weight gain, sexual problems, joint pain, and insomnia. Next-generation anticancer drugs, such as chemotherapy, have changed from injections provided by hospitals to oral treatments that can be eaten at home. Because of this, the medical community is paying a lot of attention to developing ways for patients to take their medications well.
As a result of the study, it was found that taking measures such as providing cheaper ‘generic medicines’ due to expired patents instead of expensive ‘original medicines’ could have a significant effect. Mobile apps, text messages and psychological strategies to remind patients to take their medications also made small improvements.
Methods of educating women about side effects through pamphlets or verbal explanations have failed to get women to take their medications as directed. However, methods such as physical therapy, exercise, and behavioral counseling to reduce or manage side effects were often effective.
Researchers asked breast cancer survivors to identify their primary motivation for taking medication. Survivors figured out whether it was to see their children or grandchildren grow, for example, to pursue art, or to run a marathon someday. Through the online program, a photo representing that goal and “I am for this…” Prepared a sticker with the phrase “” and pasted it on the medicine box. Even little things like this could help. Participants were more likely than others to take their medications regularly during the first month.
The research team said that countermeasures were needed, such as education on side effects, recommendations from doctors who specialize in side effects, and follow-up measures such as appointment reminders.
The results of this study (A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Interventions to Promote Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy Adherence Among Breast Cancer Survivors) were published in the journal Clinical Oncology.
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