How you have chemotherapy

Chemotherapy tablets and capsules

You may have chemotherapy tablets or capsules to take at home. This is also called oral chemotherapy.

It is important to follow the instructions for taking and storing your chemotherapy tablets.

Taking chemotherapy tablets or capsules

This may be all the treatment you need or you may have drugs into a vein (intravenous drugs) as well.

The doctors or nurses will tell you:

when to take the tablets or capsules
how often to take them
whether or not to take them with food
how long before or after food you should take them
if there is any food or drink you shouldn't have while you are taking them – for example, you shouldn't eat grapefruit with some drugs
if there are other medicines you shouldn't take at the same time

You should touch the tablets as little as possible and wash your hands after touching them. Anyone helping you to take them should wear gloves. Chemotherapy tablets shouldn't be touched by anyone who is pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

Chemotherapy is excreted by the body in pee and poo, so flush the toilet each time you use it.

You should swallow the tablets whole. Don’t chew them. Never crush tablets or open capsules unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to.

Missed tablets or capsules

Contact your cancer specialist or chemotherapy nurse for advice if you miss your tablets for any reason. Or if you are sick soon after taking them.

You should not:

take a double dose next time
take them longer than the planned time

Find out more about taking medicines

Storing your tablets

Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how to store your tablets or capsules safely at home. Some drugs need to be kept in the fridge and some don't.

Wherever you keep your drugs, make sure that children or pets can't get at them. It's best to keep them out of reach or in a locked cupboard if there are children around.

If you have any unused tablets, take them back to the pharmacy. Do not put them in the bin or down the toilet.

About cancer drugs

Last reviewed: 28 Nov 2023

Next review due: 27 Nov 2026

What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is the use of anti cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells.

When you might have chemotherapy

Whether you have chemotherapy as part of your treatment depends on what type of cancer you have, how big it is and whether it has spread or not.

Chemotherapy side effects

Most chemotherapy side effects are temporary, but some people are affected months or years after treatment.

Chemotherapy safety at home

Some of the by-products of systemic anti cancer therapy (SACT) come out of your body in your vomit, wee, poo, blood or other bodily fluids during and for some time after your treatment. This can be harmful to others. So you must take precautions if you go home.

Your cancer type

Search for the cancer type you want to find out about. Each section has detailed information about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, research and coping with cancer.