It's a lot easier to take your medicines wrong than right. Yes, says Amy Law, M.D., an Oncologist at Tufts New England Medical Center. Law says she can be fairly certain that her cancer patients will take their chemotherapy medications exactly as prescribed. The FDA recommends that patients tell their doctors about any medications they may be taking. And Americans can expect the problem to get even more complicated as more high-tech drugs enter the picture.
Drugs are sophisticated tools.
People either have blind faith in drugs, or are so scared of them they don't want to take any at all, he says. Moore suggests a balanced approach that includes being a skeptical consumer, getting the facts, and talking with doctors. A person should weigh the risks, but shouldn't pass up an opportunity to use a good tool. Check the list of ingredients for things you may be allergic to. Know the expiration date.