Women at high risk wanted for breast cancer drug trial

The charity Cancer Research UK is funding the IBIS-2 study for women more susceptible to the illness, which is diagnosed by doctors in 11 women in the region every day.

Early results using the drug anastrozole suggest it could help prevent as many as two thirds of breast cancers in high-risk patients.

Researchers are appealing to eligible women to take part in the trial which is being carried out at a number of hospitals in Yorkshire including in Leeds, Keighley, Wakefield, Bradford, Huddersfield, Sheffield, York, Scarborough and Hull.

The study is open to post-menopausal women aged between 40-70 who are not on hormone replacement therapy and have a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors, such as certain types of non-cancerous breast lumps.

Principal investigator Prof Jack Cuzick, of the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine in London, said: “The good news is that early results show the drug could potentially prevent up to 65 per cent of breast cancers in women at high risk of the disease so it could be the next big step forward in preventing breast cancer for future generations.”

Women who would like to find out if they are eligible to take part in the study, which is looking to involve 4,000 participants worldwide, can go to www.ibis-trials.org or ring the research team on 0800 111 4134 or Cancer Research UK’s cancer information nurses on 0808 800 4040.