 The study is a breakthrough for post-menopausal women |
A new study has revealed a breakthrough in the treatment of post-menopausal women with early stage breast cancer. Results show that women who switched to the drug exemestane, after taking tamoxifen for two to three years, reduced their risk of cancer returning.
The research showed that their survival rates also improved.
Consultant Oncologist at Belfast City Hospital Dr Seamus McAleer said that the results of the research were "very encouraging".
"This is the first study that has shown an actual improvement in survival. That is actually quite important," he said.
"There will be more women alive in the long term after they switched to exemestane than if they had stayed with tamoxifen."
He said that for women who were past the menopause, where these drugs were effective, this combination "not only reduces the risk of relapse, it also gives a very significant improvement in survival in the longer term".
Dr McAleer said that in Northern Ireland this particular pattern of drug taking had been already recommended to patients over the past year.
However, he pointed out that the drugs only worked with hormone sensitive tumours and in post-menopausal women.
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