Preventing Breast Cancer with Medical Treatment

Drug therapy clinical trials for preventing breast cancer in high risk women are called chemoprevention trials. In the largest chemoprevention study of drugs that block or interfere with the actions of estrogen, the incidence of breast cancer was reduced about 50%. Another study showed a 76% reduction in cancer incidence at 4 years and a 66% reduction at 8 years.

Other classes of drugs are being tested or considered for testing in breast cancer chemoprevention trials. Your healthcare provider can provide more information about this important topic.