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25/06/2013
Cancer Drug Offer For 'At Risk' Women
Women who are at most risk of developing breast cancer are to be offered a preventative drug on the NHS, the NICE has said.
Studies have found that taking tamoxifen or raloxifene can reduce the chances of developing cancer by half.
Now, new guidelines recommend the treatment can be given to healthy women who are "at risk" of developing cancer. This includes women with a family history of cancer. For example, if a woman has two or more family members who have been diagnosed with cancer, she will be offered the treatment for five years.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with about 50,000 women and 400 men diagnosed with the condition each year. Based on research findings, experts estimate that for every 1,000 women given tamoxifen, there would be 20 fewer breast cancers.
Additionally, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has said the NHS should offer MRI screening every year to all women aged 30-49 years who have, or who have had, breast cancer and who remain at high risk of the disease.
This includes those with a BRCA1 or BRCA1 mutation.
Professor Mark Baker, Director of the Centre for Clinical Practice at NICE, said: "Our updated guideline now gives women more options in how they manage their risk of breast cancer; those with a 'moderate' or 'high' risk of developing breast cancer because of their family history but who have not had the disease themselves can now be offered tamoxifen or raloxifene for five years to prevent it.
"Although neither drug is licensed as a preventative treatment in the UK, clinical evidence shows they are an effective option for many women and could be preferable to surgery."
(JP/CD)
Studies have found that taking tamoxifen or raloxifene can reduce the chances of developing cancer by half.
Now, new guidelines recommend the treatment can be given to healthy women who are "at risk" of developing cancer. This includes women with a family history of cancer. For example, if a woman has two or more family members who have been diagnosed with cancer, she will be offered the treatment for five years.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with about 50,000 women and 400 men diagnosed with the condition each year. Based on research findings, experts estimate that for every 1,000 women given tamoxifen, there would be 20 fewer breast cancers.
Additionally, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has said the NHS should offer MRI screening every year to all women aged 30-49 years who have, or who have had, breast cancer and who remain at high risk of the disease.
This includes those with a BRCA1 or BRCA1 mutation.
Professor Mark Baker, Director of the Centre for Clinical Practice at NICE, said: "Our updated guideline now gives women more options in how they manage their risk of breast cancer; those with a 'moderate' or 'high' risk of developing breast cancer because of their family history but who have not had the disease themselves can now be offered tamoxifen or raloxifene for five years to prevent it.
"Although neither drug is licensed as a preventative treatment in the UK, clinical evidence shows they are an effective option for many women and could be preferable to surgery."
(JP/CD)
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Breast cancer can cost sufferers thousands of pounds, a survey by a leading cancer charity has revealed. Macmillan Cancer Relief surveyed 50 cancer patients and found that, on average, they spent almost £2,000 on extra costs during their treatment.
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HRT therapy can double breast cancer risk
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12 April 2006
Breast cancer patient wins Herceptin court battle
A breast cancer patient has won an appeal to receive the drug Herceptin on the NHS. Ann Marie Rogers, 54, from Swindon went to the Court of Appeal after the High Court ruled that Swindon Primary Care Trust had not acted unlawfully in refusing to give her the drug.
Breast cancer patient wins Herceptin court battle
A breast cancer patient has won an appeal to receive the drug Herceptin on the NHS. Ann Marie Rogers, 54, from Swindon went to the Court of Appeal after the High Court ruled that Swindon Primary Care Trust had not acted unlawfully in refusing to give her the drug.
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