Prescription Drugs and Post-Cancer Treatment

The period after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment is a critical time in a breast cancer survivor’s life. Patients who have completed treatment will need to be carefully monitored by their doctors. Usually they will have follow-up appointments every four to six months after their initial treatments to monitor any changes in the body. The longer patients have been successfully cancer free, the longer they may go between follow-up appointments.

The post-surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation months are extremely important as to whether the cancer will recur or not. Often, the post-cancer period is when patients are started on prescription drugs. Drugs that can be taken by women at a high risk for breast cancer to try to prevent the disease can also be taken by women who have survived the disease in order to better their long-term survival rates.

If you are taking Tamoxifen, it is important to consult your doctor if you experience any of the more rare side effects listed on the label, or if you experience any unusual vaginal bleeding. Since the drug raises the risk of developing uterine cancer, it is important for all patients on Tamoxifen to have a yearly examination, including a pelvic exam. Closely monitor your health and discuss any changes with your doctor.

Also, if you are on an aromatase inhibitor, you will need to see your doctor for follow up appointments and to keep an eye on your bone mass, because the drug blocks estrogen production that can lead to a loss in bone density. Women who have had breast cancer are discouraged from choosing hormone replacement therapy during menopause because the therapy uses estrogen to relieve symptoms of menopause, and estrogen has been linked to an increase in breast cancer development.

Finally, it is especially important for breast cancer survivors who wish to become pregnant to consult their doctors as soon as possible. Many of the prescription drugs taken post-cancer—including Tamoxifen and the aromatase inhibitors—can cause birth defects in unborn fetuses and may also negatively affect your ability to become pregnant. These drugs have been linked to sterility, so if you choose to take the drugs you should monitor your fertility regularly and take the drugs for as little time as possible.