New Developments in the Fight against Breast Cancer

In the United States, 300,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed every year. However, there may be a new way to help fight against the disease and even prevent it from occurring. Two new drugs on the market, raloxifene, and tamoxifen are believed to have the power to give up to 20 years of added protection against contracting the disease for those who are at higher risk. It is also likely that women who have a history of the disease in their family could be given the medication on a daily basis.

The Drugs

Tamoxifen is not actually a new drug, being around for over 30 years. The drug has already saved the lives of thousands of people since its inception and perhaps most remarkably only costs a few cents every day. Even still, newer modern drugs may be replacing it as trials have shown that the newer drugs could be even more effective at preventing the spread of cancer. Current trials that have been done throughout the world have shown that the drugs can reduce the risk by 33% after five years, with the effect potentially allowing for 20 years of added protection.
In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service has been carefully reviewing the guidelines for the administration of the drugs and has thus far found it to be a good practice. It is important to attempt to prevent the cancer before it actually needs to be treated. For that reason, it has been widely suggested that women who are at higher risk due to family history and genetics should be watched closely to check for the onset and early stages of the disease.

Statistics and Concerns

Throughout the general population, the risk of developing breast cancer falls to about a 12% chance. However, for those women who doctors consider being at high risk, the percentage is much higher, leaving some women at a 33% chance to develop breast cancer. Tamoxifen and raloxifene are both currently licensed in the United States; however, they are yet to be widely accepted because side effects are largely unknown at this point in time. However, despite these concerns, the United Kingdom’s National Health Service has no problem recommending the drug as they once again instill their belief that there is enough evidence showing the positive effects of the drug.

Going Forward

In a world where cancer rates seem to be growing each and every year, it is positive news that those at risk will have at least a few more tools in the fight against the disease. While the lack of knowledge regarding the side effects may be off-putting to some, those who are truly at risk are welcoming having the medication available to them. At the very least it gives more confidence to the women who have been diagnosed or who are at higher risk in the future. Having additional options to combat the effects of cancer is always welcome to both doctors and patients alike. Time will tell how well it works, but at least women have positive news in the fight against breast cancer going forward.