Which cancers can be given medication for a maximum of 3 months at a time?

Many cancer patients who have been treated stably and are taking hormonal drugs can be given long-term medication to reduce the pressure of traveling and having monthly check-ups.

Patients get medicine at K Hospital, Tan Trieu branch ( Hanoi ) - Illustration: D.LIEU

Speaking to Tuoi Tre, Dr. Pham Cam Phuong - Director of the Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Center of Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi) - said that currently, there are some groups of cancer patients who can be considered for long-term medication (up to three months/time) during maintenance treatment instead of having to return for check-ups and get medication every month as at present.

According to statistics at the Center for Nuclear Medicine and Oncology, the group of patients using maintenance endocrine drugs currently has about 500 people, accounting for 10% of the total number of patients being treated.

According to Dr. Phuong, there are currently two typical groups of patients recommended for long-term medication: differentiated thyroid cancer, who have undergone surgery, are stable in treatment, and are using thyroid hormone maintenance. This group of patients has a high cure rate, and maintenance medication can be used for life.

The second is breast cancer patients, after surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and now in the maintenance phase of endocrine therapy. These patients usually take endocrine therapy for five years and have a good prognosis.

"Providing long-term medication is not only more convenient for patients but also helps upper-level hospitals reduce the pressure of re-examination, especially in the context of an increasing number of cancer patients," said Dr. Phuong.

However, Dr. Phuong also emphasized that long-term medication is only suitable for cases where the disease is stable and has a good prognosis. Late-stage cancer patients who are being closely monitored for treatment response or are at risk of progression should not be given long-term medication.

Dr. Phuong noted: "Even if the patient is given long-term medication, they still need to be carefully instructed about possible unusual signs. When there are suspicious signs, they need to return to the medical facility for timely examination to detect early recurrence or complications."

Currently, the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment ( Ministry of Health ) is amending the circular guiding outpatient prescriptions, planning to increase the time for dispensing medication for patients with chronic diseases who have been treated stably to a maximum of three months/time instead of once a month as at present.

This is one of the proposed solutions to help cancer patients in particular and other chronic diseases in general to have more convenient treatment, especially those who have to travel far, are in difficult circumstances or cannot take regular leave from work for check-ups.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/benh-ung-thu-nao-co-the-duoc-cap-thuoc-toi-da-3-thang-lan-20250617095949489.htm