Anastrozole, a drug traditionally used to treat breast cancer, has now been licensed in England as a preventative measure, opening up the possibility for tens of thousands of women to benefit from the medication. According to recent trials, this drug can reduce the incidence of breast cancer by 50% in post-menopausal women at an increased risk of developing the disease. NHS England estimates that around 289,000 women could be eligible and, if one in four of those women come forward to use the drug, it could prevent 2,000 cases of breast cancer and save the health service £15m in treatment costs.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved Anastrozole’s use as part of NHS England’s medicines-repurposing program. Off-patent, multiple companies can now make and distribute Anastrozole cheaply. In 2017, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended the drug as a preventative measure.
Lesley-Ann Woodhams, a UK resident, recently completed a five-year course of taking one tablet a day. After her mother developed breast cancer, Woodhams felt it was “an easy decision” to use Anastrozole. The medication gave her peace of mind and a sense of hope for the future. Health Minister Will Quince praised Anastrozole’s approval and the new option it offered women. Anastrozole functions as an aromatase inhibitor, blocking ovary-generated estrogen in postmenopausal women, which lessens the likelihood of developing breast cancer. While side effects can occur, such as joint pain or hot flushes, patients should speak to their pharmacists or physicians if they occur.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in England, with over 47,000 diagnoses each year. Women worried about the likelihood of developing the disease are encouraged to speak with their general practitioners, to whom they can be referred for a full risk evaluation that takes into account their family history
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