Cancer prevention is the Holy Grail among breast cancer researchers and they are all exited about the addition one more drug to fight breast cancer. Use of one of these drugs would cut down the risks of developing breast cancer markedly.

While tamoxifen and raloxifene are primary breast cancer preventive drugs meaning they are effective in prevention of breast cancer in women who never had breast cancer. Drugs like tamoxifen, Arimidex (anastrozole), Femara (letrozole), and Aromasin (exemestane) are also used as secondary preventative agents in women who had been diagnosed with beast cancer but had undergone surgical removal of the cancer.

The story of tamoxifen and raloxifene is not projected as an outright success in the breast cancer prevention. Taking these pills for a long time may trigger some other troubles. Tamoxifen is associated with increased risk of blood clots (DVT and pulmonary embolism) and increased risk of uterine cancer. A recent clinical trial has shown that raloxifene may be safer in this regard and would provide same level of breast cancer prevention. Raloxifene has the added advantage of improving the bone density with long term use.

Drugs like Arimidex, Femara, and Aromasin are members of a group called aromatase inhibitors. These drugs are safer than tamoxifen in terms of increased risk of blood clots and uterine cancer, but are associated with increased risk of causing fractures.

Breast cancer mortality has shown some declining trend in the recent years; still it is second only to lung cancer as cause of cancer mortality in women. We have a long way to go in terms of cancer prevention.

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