Looking For A Pill To Prevent Breast Cancer

Imagine someone somewhere inventing a pill that would prevent breast cancer. I am sure that all women in the world would line up for that pill. He or she who invents the pill could become an instant multimillionaire.

Sorry to disappoint you, it's not there yet. But in 1998 scientists thought they had the next best thing when a study found that tamoxifen could significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer by about 50 percent in women who have high risk of developing breast cancer.

Tamoxifen had its own problems. Among other thing tamoxifen causes hot flashes, increases the risk of blood clot in the legs and lung. Tamoxifen also increases the risk of developing uterine cancer and may increase the risk of developing stroke. Tamoxifen never became very popular among women for breast cancer prevention, and was not used except in women who have very high risk of developing breast cancer like BRCA carriers.

Breast cancer prevention was again in the center of breast cancer news last month, when the results of a new study showing efficacy of raloxifene in breast cancer were published. The National Cancer Institute held a series of news conferences and announced that the drug raloxifene was as good as tamoxifen in breast cancer prevention with lesser side effects.

We are not anywhere close to total prevention of breast cancer yet. But 50 percent reduction of risk means something to every woman. Raloxifene is still not FDA approved for breast cancer prevention, but it would not be long before we see approval for this drug. The drug manufacturer of raloxifene is seeking FDA approval for risk reduction in low-risk women as well. A number of women are already taking raloxifene for osteoporosis and for them breast cancer prevention is a bonus advantage.

Based on an article from New York Times.