Breast cancer drug treatment breakthrough

A MAJOR independent landmark study has confirmed that a new drug is highly effective at boosting the survival rate of breast cancer sufferers.

The study of more than 8,000 postmenopausal women in 25 countries with early breast cancer found that the drug letrozole is statistically more effective than tamoxifen, the current standard drug treatment in reducing the risk of breast cancer recurrence after diagnosis and surgery.

The International Breast Cancer Study Group found that letrozole improves survival by 20% and reduced the risk of cancer returning to distant sites by almost 30%.

A consultant oncologist at St James’s Hospital in Dublin, Dr John Kennedy, said the study was a further reassurance to both oncologists and patients that newer agents, such as letrozole, significantly reduced the risk of a recurrence of the disease.

Irish Cancer Society’s Action Breast Cancer (ABC) project leader Abby Langtry welcomed the study that showed significant improvements were being made in the treatment of the disease.

“I would welcome any well-conducted trial that helps us to better understand and better treat breast cancer,” she said.

Every year, around 1,800 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 650 die from the disease but early diagnosis and better treatment is reducing the mortality rate.

“Breast cancer, when detected and acted on early enough, becomes a chronic illness and people will live with it,” said Ms Langtry.

Meanwhile, nurses and medical personnel attending a national conference on breast cancer in Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, were urged to help patients with the disease to get in contact with breast cancer survivors.

Grace Harrison, a breast cancer survivor and voluntary member of the Irish Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery team, spoke of the important role they played in supporting women battling against the disease.

Those with concerns about breast cancer can call the Freefone Action Breast Cancer Helpline 1800 30 90 40.