Tamoxifen has reduced breast cancer rates 'by a third'

Tamoxifen is a well-established and effective treatment for certain breast cancers, but  evidence of its very long-term preventive benefits," says lead author Prof. Jack Cuzick, head of the Centre for Cancer Prevention at Queen Mary University of London, UK.

"The preventive effect of tamoxifen is highly significant with a reduction in breast cancer rates of around a third," he adds, "and this impact has remained strong and unabated for 20 years."

The estimated risk of developing breast cancer after 20 years of follow-up was found to be 8% among the tamoxifen group, compared with 12% in the placebo group.