Results from one of the largest and longest-running breast cancer treatment studies in the world indicate the drug Arimidex is more effective in treating early breast cancer in postmenopausal women that the current treatment, Tamoxifen.
The results, published today at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Sypmosium in the US, show that following surgery, five years' treatment with Arimidex reduces the risk of cancer recurring by 26 per cent over and above the 50 per cent reduction of risk already offered by Tamoxifen.
Arimidex has been available in Ireland since 1996 for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. It is manufactured by the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca. The data published today show that it can now be used to effectively treat the early stages of the disease.
A total of 9,366 postmenopausal women around the world, including 42 women from Ireland, participated in the study over a five-year period.
Professor Tom Gorey, Consultant Surgeon to the Mater Hospital and the BreastCheck Screening Board, was the lead investigator for the study in Ireland. He said: "With Arimidex, women can now be confident that they have the best possible chance yet to live their life without the breast cancer returning and to beat the disease."
There are over 1,700 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed each year in Ireland with approximately 600 deaths resulting from the disease. The majority of cases are diagnosed in women over 50.
The results of the study also show that Arimidex has less side effects than the current treatment.
For information on any issue in relation to breast cancer and the treatment of breast cancer, call Action Breast Cancer's Helpline on Freefone 1800 30 90 40.