Two drugs are equal in preventing breast cancer
By Nathan Seppa
A commonly prescribed anti-osteoporosis drug works as well at preventing breast cancer in postmenopausal women as the sole drug currently prescribed for the task, a head-to-head trial shows.
Scientists designed the study to compare oral doses of the osteoporosis drug raloxifene (Evista) with tamoxifen (Nolvadex) taken for 5 years. Roughly half of the nearly 20,000 women received raloxifene; the others got tamoxifen. All the women were at high risk of breast cancer.
Researchers report that roughly the same number of women-167 and 163-developed breast cancer while taking raloxifene and tamoxifen, respectively.