Preventing Breast Cancer

Nearly 20,000 women in a recent study took either tamoxifen, the only drug currently approved to reduce breast cancer incidence in high-risk women, or the osteoporosis drug raloxifene (Evista) daily for five years.

Result: Both drugs cut invasive breast cancer incidence by 50%. However, the raloxifene group developed 36% fewer uterine cancers and 29% fewer blood clots than the tamoxifen group.

Theory: Like tamoxifen, raloxifene helps moderate the hormone estrogen, but with fewer side effects. Raloxifene received FDA approval in September 2007 for breast cancer prevention.