Photograph: Marina Krasnokutska/AlamyPhotograph: Marina Krasnokutska/AlamyAlmost 300,000 women at higher risk of developing breast cancer are being given access to a drug that can halve their risk in a “major step forward” in the fight against the disease.
The move to make anastrozole available to all eligible women represents a potential new frontier in the fight against Britain’s big killers because it is the first time that a drug which is already used to treat a condition has been “repurposed” to prevent the same disease from appearing. Anastrozole is known as an aromatase inhibitor. It works by reducing the amount of the hormone oestrogen that a woman’s body makes by blocking the enzyme aromatase.
Dr David Crosby, head of prevention and early detection at Cancer Research UK, said: “Approaches to help prevent breast cancer at high risk are badly needed, so this is a welcome announcement.
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Source: 9NewsAUS - 🏆 10. / 72 Read more »