Title: Anastrozole to be Made Available to Women at High Risk of Breast Cancer
Subtitle: Groundbreaking drug offers hope in the fight against breast cancer
Date: [Insert Date]
In a significant breakthrough in the battle against breast cancer, almost 300,000 women in England who are at a higher risk of developing the disease will now have access to a groundbreaking drug that can potentially halve their risk. NHS bosses have announced that anastrozole, a tablet known for its ability to reduce the number of breast cancer cases, will be available starting from today.
Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the UK, with approximately 56,000 women diagnosed each year. Despite improving survival rates, it still claims the lives of around 11,500 women annually. This new option to reduce risk could make a significant difference in preventing breast cancer cases and alleviating the distress caused by a diagnosis.
The drug, anastrozole, will be provided to women who have been through menopause and have a major family history of breast cancer. It works by blocking an enzyme called aromatase, which then reduces the production of estrogen in the body. Estrogen is known to promote the growth of certain types of breast cancers.
Amanda Pritchard, the NHSC England’s chief executive, expressed her enthusiasm about the prospect of thousands of women benefiting from the new risk-reducing option. The drug will be taken once a day for five years as a 1mg tablet.
What sets this development apart is that anastrozole has been “repurposed” from a drug used to treat breast cancer to one that can prevent its onset. This represents a potential new frontier in the fight against common diseases. However, due to associated side-effects such as hot flushes, joint pain, and depression, not all women may complete the full five-year course.
The introduction of anastrozole to the eligible population could potentially prevent up to 2,000 cases of breast cancer, according to NHS England. Post-menopausal women with a family history of the disease have been advised to consult their GP or approach a breast cancer or family history clinic to access the treatment.
Breast cancer charities and experts in the field have praised the availability of anastrozole for at-risk women. Chief executive of the charity Breast Cancer Now, Baroness Delyth Morgan, called the move a “major step forward” in reducing the chances of developing breast cancer. Cancer Research UK’s Dr. David Crosby hailed the announcement as a welcome development in preventing high-risk breast cancer.
The release of anastrozole through the pioneering Medicines Repurposing Programme, which examines already existing drugs for different purposes, indicates the potential of this approach in fighting various diseases. Examples include the deployment of tocilizumab and dexamethasone for the treatment of Covid-19 during the pandemic.
In related news, a new test developed by Prof Martin Widschwendter of University College London offers hope for women with vaginal bleeding who may have womb cancer. The WID-qEC test is a more accurate diagnostic tool that can reduce the need for painful surgical biopsies in identifying or ruling out womb cancer in women who have gone through menopause.
The study, co-funded by charity Eve Appeal, indicates that the WID-qEC test could save 90% of women from undergoing biopsies and provide quicker diagnosis and treatment. The test is expected to be commercially available in Austria and Switzerland by early 2024 and may soon reach the UK.
The availability of anastrozole for high-risk women and the development of the WID-qEC test exemplify the ongoing progress in the prevention and early detection of breast and womb cancer respectively. These advancements offer hope to thousands of women and mark significant milestones in the ongoing fight against these devastating diseases.
Note: This article provides an overview of the development and potential impact of anastrozole availability for high-risk women and the WID-qEC test for womb cancer. Further details and information can be found from official sources and medical professionals.