Post-menopausal women in the UK who are at a higher risk of breast cancer may soon have wider access to a medicine called anastrozole to reduce their chance of developing it.Anastrozole may already be used for prevention in those without breast cancer on an “off label” basis in many countries, including the US, but uptake is low. Now, the UK has becomeat Queen Mary University of London, who was involved in a trial of anastrozole.
But anastrozole’s side effects – which are the same as severe menopausal symptoms, such as aching joints and hot flushes – can put people off taking it, saysannounced how this risk level would be defined, but it may include someone with at least one close relative, such as a mother or sister, who was diagnosed with the condition.
Anastrozole isn’t the only drug that can be used for breast cancer prevention. Another that is sometimes used is called tamoxifen, which can also cause menopause-like side effects, as well as raising the risk of blood clots. Both drugs work by blocking the female sex hormone oestrogen, which promotes growth of breast cancer cells. Due to their different mechanisms, anastrozole can only be taken by women after they have gone through theWomen can also reduce their risk of dying from breast cancer by having more frequent mammogram screenings and undergoing these scans at an earlier age.
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