Tamoxifen on NHS for Woman with family history of breast cancer

[al**bear]

Thousands of women across Britain with a family history of breast cancer are to be offered drugs on the NHS to help prevent the disease.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says tamoxifen or raloxifene taken daily for five years can cut breast cancer risk by 40%.

Its guidance for England and Wales means 500,000 women now have a choice other than mastectomy.

The Scottish government says it will offer tamoxifen to women at risk.

However, experts say women still need to carefully weigh up their options. It has side effects

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23032371

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Wonder drug , from weird source

It is made from Daffodil bulbs, there is only a short window when the bulbs can be used, just after the sprouting of the shoot through the Bulbs skin. Tons of bulbs are used , many lorry loads to make Litres of the Drug & it is a long complicated process, Only males can work with it or making it.

I used to work in the company who makes it

[hightara]

thank you for that  Bear...

wow.......... it was just watching the news when i was typing this.

no history of breast cancer in our family... but both my parents have had bowel and hodgkins and my brother skin cancer

my wonderful sister-in-law died two years ago from breast cancer....

personally if i was diagnosed with breast cancer.......i would get my boobs removed.

[captainbovine]

mee too Tara,

my mother and father both died of cancer of the spine.....

sometimes I wonder about me being the third......

[wizilizi]

My MIL was on Tamoxifen for 5 years after her second bout of breast cancer (for which she had had lumpectomies) in her 70s - & was very well for a long time after that 

She died in her late 80s, not from cancer

[bitsnknots]

Cancer is rife in our family especially on my mum's side.  An aunt of mine had to have a mastectomy.  She died about 3 years ago but not from cancer.  She lived for several years after having the mastectomy.

Another think that's rife in our family is arthritis - again on my mum's side.  I always say that I wasn't put together right in the mixer.  My mum just laughs.

[amandacleggart]

My Grandma got breast cancer in her 60's but doctor says that does not make me eligible for the drug. He said it has to be either your mother or sisters who have had it while still young for you to qualify.

Also I have to wait another 5 years before I can be screened. Fingers crossed for the next 5 years! I'll just have to carry on fondling my own boobs till then!