SAN DIEGO — Breast cancer survivors take an average of eight medications or supplements, results from a survey of nearly 400 women showed.
“This study shows that there is a need to evaluate medications women are taking prior to the start of cancer treatment to promote discussion and education about drug-drug interactions that can impact treatment,” Julie L. Otte, Ph.D., said in an interview after her poster presentation at the annual meeting of the North American Menopause Society.
“There is little research in the field of pharmacogenetics regarding drug-drug interactions and cancer treatment and survivorship,” said Dr. Otte, a nurse who is a postdoctoral fellow focusing on behavioral oncology at Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis.
She and her colleagues reviewed prescription, herbal, and over-the-counter medications reported in baseline questionnaire data from the Consortium on Breast Cancer Pharmacogenomics randomized clinical trial that evaluated the pharmacogenetics and toxicities of exemestane and letrozole. The sample included 389 breast cancer survivors with a mean age of 59 years.
The women reported taking an average of eight medications or supplements per day. The five most common categories were vitamins and herbal supplements (39%), cardiac drugs (16%), medications for pain and inflammation (13%), other (9%), and drugs for psychological conditions (6%).
Disclosures: Dr. Otte had no conflicts of interest related to the study, which was funded by the National Cancer Institute.