Prognosis

What Is Anastrozole and Who Will Receive the Drug to Prevent Breast Cancer?

A consultant studying a mammogram

Photographer: Rui Vieira/PA Wire
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Anastrozole, a daily pill to prevent breast cancer, will now be available to thousands of more women in the UK after being cleared for wider use.

The drug has been used to treat hormone-driven breast cancers for years in England, but was not previously licensed for prevention. In trials, anastrozole has been shown to reduce instances of the disease in most post-menopausal women by almost 50%.