ALMOST 300,000 women at high risk of breast cancer are set to receive a groundbreaking treatment that could significantly reduce their risk. The NHS in England will provide a daily pill called Anastrozole to post-menopausal women with inherited gene mutations that increase their risk of developing breast cancer. Research has shown that this inexpensive medication can reduce the threat by an impressive 49%.
The power of prevention
Anastrozole, also known as Arimidex, was originally designed as a tumour drug. However, after doctors discovered its potential in preventing cancer, it was allowed to be prescribed for this purpose in 2017. Now, with a new license from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, it will become standard care for high-risk women.
How it works
Anastrozole works by reducing the levels of estrogen in the body, which some tumors rely on to grow. By targeting this hormone, the medication effectively starves the cancer cells and reduces the risk of tumor development.
A major breakthrough
NHS England chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, expressed excitement about the potential impact of this new program, stating, "This is the first drug to be repurposed through a world-leading new program to help us realize the full potential of existing medicines to save and improve lives." Baroness Delyth Morgan of the charity Breast Cancer Now also hailed the roll-out of Anastrozole as a "major step forward."
By offering this affordable and effective preventative treatment to high-risk individuals, the NHS is taking a significant stride towards reducing breast cancer cases and ultimately saving lives.
