Breast cancer drug’s arrival in Ireland is ‘good news’

A NEW breast cancer drug shown to cut the risk of the disease returning by almost a third is available in Ireland, it was learned yesterday.

Aromasin is the latest of a new generation of drugs that fights breast cancer by blocking the production of oestrogen in post-menopausal women.

Trials have shown switching to Aromasin instead of continuing with tamoxifen for five years cuts the chances of cancer returning by an extra 30%, and the chances of cancer appearing in another breast is reduced by half.