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August 19, 2015: SafeMedicationUse.ca Newsletter - Oral Chemotherapy: Not Just an Ordinary Pill

Oral chemotherapy is cancer medicine that is taken by mouth. These medicines come as tablets, capsules, or liquids that can be swallowed. As a result, oral chemotherapy can be taken at home. For people with cancer, taking a medicine by mouth is easier than intravenous chemotherapy because they don't have to go to the hospital or a clinic to have the medicine administered. However, even though these medicines can be taken by mouth, they aren't necessarily safer than injectable chemotherapy. In fact, chemotherapy pills can be just as strong as the chemotherapy given by injections and infusions. Mistakes with oral chemotherapy medicine can lead to serious side effects and even death.  Read more...