15.01.13
NICE consults on drugs to reduce breast cancer risk
Women with a family history of breast cancer could be offered preventative medication on the NHS.
The organisation has launched a consultation on whether tamoxifen should be given to high-risk women for up to five years, and is expected to publish finalised guidance this summer.
‘High-risk’ includes women with a sister and a mother or aunt who was diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50. Around 1% of women aged over 30 fall into this category.
For every 1,000 women given tamoxifen, there could be 20 fewer breast cancers, experts estimate.
Professor Mark Baker, director of the centre for clinical practice at NICE, said: “Having a family history of breast, ovarian or a related cancer can significantly increase the risk of developing breast cancer, including developing the cancer at a younger age.
“It is also more likely that people with family members affected by cancer who then develop breast cancer themselves could develop a separate tumour in the other breast following initial treatment.
“This is why it's wise for any person with a family history of cancer to receive appropriate investigations and screening that would otherwise be unnecessary if a family history did not exist.”
Chris Askew, chief executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: “This draft guideline represents an historic step for the prevention of breast cancer – it is the first time drugs have ever been recommended for reducing breast cancer risk in the UK.
“This is exciting as, even though most women do not have a significant family history of the disease, it's crucial that those who do have an array of options to help them control their risk.”
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