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The finding underscores the importance of working with patients to reduce side effects, especially at a time when patients are increasingly responsible for their own care, says Jennifer Obel.

Half of breast cancer patients stop taking key medications ahead of schedule, a decision that can increase their risk of relapse and death, a new study shows. The finding underscores the importance of working with patients to reduce side effects, especially at a time when patients are increasingly responsible for their own care, says Jennifer Obel, an American Society of Clinical Oncology breast cancer expert. Fifty cancer drugs are now available as pills that can be taken at home.

The study focused on women whose breast tumors are fueled by estrogen. In addition to surgery and radiation, many of these women typically are told to take hormonal therapies — such as tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor — for five years. These drugs, which prevent estrogen from stimulating tumor growth, can reduce the risk of relapse by 40% and cut the risk of death by 10%, says Patricia Ganz of the University of California-Los Angeles.

Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology