Learning about fake cancer medicines might bring about feelings of fear, powerlessness, and distrust in medical systems. As a patient, your actions and vigilance can make a difference. By educating yourself, openly communicating with your healthcare provider, and taking precaution when purchasing medicines, you can protect yourself and significantly reduce the likelihood that you encounter a fake medicine. Your healthcare providers are here to support you and ensure you access treatment that is effective and safe.

Some patients are more at risk than others, but everyone should practice vigilance.
Residing in a low- or middle-income country, being low-income, or using a medicine that is low in supply increases your risk of encountering a fake cancer medicine. These patients should practice extra vigilance when purchasing or consuming medicines.

Be alert to the warning signs.
Familiarize yourself with the visual signs of falsification in packaging or medicine appearance and be observant of unexpected side effects or clinical response.

Use trustworthy sources to purchase medicines.
Most online pharmacies are not safe. If an online pharmacy must be used, talk to your healthcare provider and verify the authenticity of the website.

Communicate openly with your healthcare provider.
With your healthcare provider, ensure that you understand your treatment plan well so that you can detect any irregularities with your medicine. Be open about any financial barriers preventing you from accessing your medicine. Your healthcare provider is responsible for answering all your questions and concerns. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification!

Any suspicion should be treated seriously and is worth talking to a health professional about.
If anything feels wrong about your medicine, immediately talk to a health professional. Stop use until you determine next steps with your provider.

Document and report suspected cases immediately.
Ensure that you keep the suspected medicine in a secure place so that your healthcare provider can determine if it is safe to use.