Medical Oncologist
Living with Tagrisso
Work, Travel and Daily Life — on Osimertinib
Osimertinib is a once-daily tablet you take at home, not an infusion you attend on set days. For most people, work, travel and a normal social life remain possible — with some planning and a few adjustments.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed August 2026
- A tablet, not an infusion — No hospital treatment days in your week — only the review appointments your team schedules.
- Most people keep working — Fatigue varies, but most patients on osimertinib do not stop work because of the drug alone.
- Travel is possible — Carry your tablets and a medication letter, and tell your team before you go.
- Sun protection matters more now — Your skin is more sensitive to UV on this drug. SPF 50 before going outside becomes a daily habit.
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Osimertinib is a once-daily tablet you take at home. Most people continue working and can travel while on it. The main adjustments are around sun protection, managing fatigue, and timing your tablet consistently. Side effects are manageable for most people and rarely mean stopping activities you value.
How do I build a routine around my osimertinib tablet?
Set a fixed daily time
Osimertinib is taken once a day. Choose morning or evening, whichever fits your life, and set a phone alarm. Consistency matters more than which time you pick.
Build sun protection into your morning
Your skin becomes more sensitive to UV from the first week. Apply SPF 50 to any exposed skin before going outside — including on cloudy days and for short trips.
Keep a brief symptom note for the first month
Jot down any new skin changes, eye discomfort, loose motions or unusual fatigue. A short record helps you and your team spot patterns quickly at review appointments.
Tell your employer or college if you need flexibility
Fatigue affects some people, especially in the first few weeks. You do not need to share your diagnosis — a medical letter requesting flexible arrangements is usually enough.
Ask for a medication letter before you travel
Ask your CION team for a letter on clinic letterhead explaining what you are carrying. This avoids questions at airport security and at state border crossings.
Can you keep working while on osimertinib?
Most people on osimertinib continue working, including in office, field and physically active roles. Because the drug is a tablet, not an infusion, there are no treatment days pulling you away from work.
Fatigue is real for some people, particularly in the first few weeks. If your work involves long hours, shift patterns or physical exertion, tell your oncologist so they can monitor your energy and adjust support.
If you work outdoors, sun protection becomes more important than usual. A hat, full-sleeved clothing and SPF 50 reduce the risk of skin irritation this drug can cause. Tell your team if your job makes sun avoidance difficult.
What do you need to plan before travelling on osimertinib?
Travel within India or abroad is possible on osimertinib. Because you carry the tablet with you, there are no infusion appointments tying you to one city.
Carry your tablets in their original pharmacy packaging with a prescription or medication letter from your oncologist. This helps at airport security and customs.
If you cross time zones, ask your oncologist how to handle the timing shift. For short trips, a few hours' difference usually does not matter. Longer gaps deserve a simple plan.
Tell your oncologist where you are going and for how long before you leave. They may want a blood test first, or want to know how to reach you if a side effect needs managing from a distance.
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Driving, going out and social events: a checklist
- Check how you feel before driving — fatigue can affect concentration and reaction time.
- Keep sunscreen in your bag for any outing, including short outdoor trips.
- Carry your tablet in its original packaging when you are away from home for the day.
- Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice — they can interfere with how osimertinib works. Other fruit is fine.
- If you drink alcohol, ask your oncology team what is reasonable for you before assuming either way.
- At weddings, ceremonies and social events, eat and drink within what your team has advised — you do not need to avoid most Indian foods.
- Keep your oncology team's contact number in your phone in case a question comes up when you are away from home.
Did you know?
Osimertinib is taken as one tablet at home, once a day. Unlike intravenous therapies, it has no infusion days — meaning no day in your calendar marked 'go to hospital for treatment'. The days between your review appointments belong to you.
This is one reason why working, travelling and attending family events remain realistic for many people on this drug.
Source: FDA prescribing information for osimertinib (Tagrisso); NCCN Guidelines Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Questions about daily life people often don't ask directly
Can I drink alcohol on osimertinib?
There is no formal prohibition on alcohol in osimertinib's prescribing information, but alcohol can worsen some of the same side effects — particularly fatigue, nausea and diarrhoea. Tell your oncology team what your current intake looks like and ask what is reasonable for you. Do not assume it is fine to drink as before, and do not assume it is completely forbidden. Ask directly at your next appointment.
Can I exercise?
Yes, and staying active is generally encouraged. ASCO guidelines support physical activity during cancer treatment as beneficial for fatigue, mood and overall wellbeing. The right level for you depends on your fitness, your symptoms and whether you have any bone involvement — your oncologist can advise. Start with walking and build up as you feel able, rather than waiting until you feel completely well.
What if I am fasting — for Ramadan, a religious vrat, or any other reason?
Fasting is not clinically prohibited, but changes to eating and drinking patterns can affect how you tolerate the tablet and may worsen dehydration if you also have diarrhoea. Tell your oncology team before any planned fast. They can advise on timing the tablet within your fast window and on what symptoms to watch for. Most oncologists would rather help you manage it well than simply tell you not to fast.
Can I have sex and maintain my relationship normally?
Osimertinib can harm a developing baby, so reliable contraception is essential throughout treatment and for a period after finishing — your oncologist will tell you exactly how long. Within that guidance, intimate relationships are not restricted by the drug. Fatigue and emotional stress do affect desire and energy for some people. If this is affecting you, it is a legitimate thing to raise with your team, not something to manage alone.
Are there foods I need to avoid beyond grapefruit?
Beyond grapefruit and grapefruit juice — which can interfere with how osimertinib is processed — there are no specific food restrictions. Indian food, including spicy dishes, lentils, rice and meat, is generally fine. If diarrhoea is a side effect, your team may suggest temporarily reducing spicy or oily food to help settle symptoms. Always tell your team about any herbal preparations, supplements or Ayurvedic medicines you take alongside the tablet.
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What if I miss a dose of osimertinib?
If you miss a dose and remember the same day, take it as soon as you can. If it is close to the time of your next dose, skip the missed one and carry on as normal — do not take two doses to catch up. Tell your oncology team if you are missing doses regularly, as consistent daily intake matters for how the drug works.
Can I work night shifts on osimertinib?
Night shifts are not specifically prohibited, but they raise two practical questions: fatigue, which affects some people especially early in treatment, and tablet timing, which needs to stay consistent. If you work rotating shifts, tell your oncologist before you start so they can help you work out the best way to schedule your dose around a changing pattern.
Do I need to tell airlines or hotels I am on this medication?
You do not need to tell airlines or hotels your diagnosis. You do need to carry your tablets through airport security, which is straightforward with your prescription label and a medication letter from your oncologist. For long trips, carry enough tablets in your hand luggage for the journey plus a few extra days in case of delays.
What sun protection do I actually need on this drug?
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 50 on any exposed skin before going outside, including on overcast days. Reapply every two hours if you are outdoors for an extended period. A hat and full-sleeved cotton clothing reduce exposure further. If you develop redness, dryness or pimple-like spots, report them to your team rather than treating them yourself.
How long will I be on osimertinib?
Osimertinib is continued for as long as it is controlling the cancer and the side effects are manageable — there is no fixed course the way chemotherapy often has a set number of cycles. Your oncologist will assess response with scans at intervals and will explain what they are looking for. How long is genuinely specific to you, and your review appointments are where that question is best answered.