‘Repurposed’ drug that could prevent breast cancer to be offered to nearly 300,000 women

Published

1 year ago

November 7, 2023

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A “repurposed” drug that could prevent breast cancer as well as treat it will be offered to almost 300,000 women, NHS officials have revealed.

Anastrozole has been used to treat hormone-sensitive breast cancer.

But trials have shown it can also stop the disease from occurring in the first place. It’s predicted cases could be cut by by 49% over 11 years.

The drug will be offered to 289,000 post-menopausal women who are considered to have at least a moderate risk of breast cancer in England.

“This is the first drug to be repurposed though a world-leading new programme to help us realise the full potential of existing medicines in new uses to save and improve more lives,” NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said.

Anastrozole was first recommended as a preventive option by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) in 2017, but, with the drug unlicensed in this use, uptake remained low.

Now scientists have found the protective effect lasts for years after a woman has stopped taking the drug – and has been licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency .

Lesley-Ann Woodhams, who has a family history of the condition, completed the full five-year course of anastrozole in January 2023 and described it as a “gift”.

“I’d watched my mum battle breast cancer and my risk was very high,” she said.

“I could live a life without constantly worrying or giving a thought to what could be if I’d developed breast cancer.

“It really was a gift, it gave my family and myself peace of mind and more importantly, a continued future to look forward to.”

breast cancer symptoms

You should see a GP if you notice any of the following:

• a new lump or area of thickened tissue in either breast that was not there before;

• a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts;

• a discharge of fluid from either nipple;

• a lump or swelling in either armpit;

• a change in the look or feel of skin, such as puckering or dimpling, a rash or redness;

• a rash (like eczema), crusting, scaly or itchy skin or redness on or around the nipple;

• a change in the appearance of a nipple, such as becoming sunken into the breast.

How does it work?

The treatment is taken as a 1mg tablet, once a day for five years and works by cutting down the amount of oestrogen the body makes by blocking an enzyme called aromatase.

The most common side effects of the medicine are hot flushes, feeling weak, pain or stiffness in the joints, arthritis, skin rash, nausea, headache, osteoporosis, and depression.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in England, with around 47,000 women in England diagnosed each year.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive at the charity Breast Cancer Now, said the move is a “major step forward” that will enable more women to reduce their chance of developing the disease.

Health Minister Will Quince said: “We’ve already seen the positive effect anastrozole can have in treating the disease when it has been detected in post-menopausal women and now we can use it to stop it developing at all in some women.”

The moves adds to the NHS’s armoury of preventative breast cancer medication, with tamoxifen and raloxifene already licensed to prevent breast cancer.

According to the NHS, the first symptom of breast cancer most women notice is a lump or an area of thickened tissue in their breast.

Most breast lumps are not cancerous, but it’s always best to have them checked by a doctor, officials say.

UK

Post Office Horizon Scandal: Four suspects identified by police

Published

21 mins ago

November 19, 2024

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Post Office Horizon Scandal: Four suspects identified by police

Four suspects have so far been identified by police investigating possible criminal charges in the Post Office scandal, Sky News has learned.

Sources have said that among the offences being considered are perverting the course of justice and perjury.

Hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted for stealing from their branches between 1999 and 2015 after faulty Horizon software caused accounting errors.

Money latest: Trump policy ‘could wipe billions from UK economy’

The Metropolitan Police is a so-called core participant in the Post Office public inquiry and has been monitoring and assessing material submitted.

It is expected that the number of suspects being investigated by police could rise in the next six to 12 months.

More than a million documents are believed to be being sifted through and the number of police officers investigating the scandal has also risen from 80 to 100, with work across every single police force.

It is not expected, however, that any charges will be brought before 2027/28, and that time frame could be extended.

A Sky News source said the number of suspects was seemingly “just a starting point”.

A meeting took place this weekend between more than 150 sub-postmasters, including Sir Alan Bates, and the Metropolitan Police.

Sir Alan said he had been told by officers that “it was going to take a few years” and that there are “no restrictions on how high investigations will take them”.

He also said the priority for sub-postmasters was financial redress and then, after that, victims will be “looking for people to be held to account”.

A Metropolitan police spokesperson said: “Yesterday [17 November] we met with Alan Bates and some of the affected sub-postmasters to provide a brief on our progress and next steps.

“Our investigation team, comprising around 100 officers from forces across the UK, is now in place and we will be sharing further details in due course.

“Initially four suspects have been identified and we anticipate this number to grow as the investigation progresses.”

UK

British Airways flights delayed after ‘technical issue’

Published

21 mins ago

November 19, 2024

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British Airways flights delayed after 'technical issue'

A “technical issue” at British Airways has delayed flights, reportedly for thousands of passengers.

Travel journalist Simon Calder said on X: “British Airways IT system failure is causing delays of 1-2 hours on many BA flights this evening… As delays build up I fear there will be cancellations tonight/tomorrow.”

In a statement on Monday evening, British Airways said flights were “currently operating, but are experiencing delays” and that its teams were working to “resolve a technical issue affecting some of our systems”.

Later they said it had been resolved: “Our teams worked hard to resolve an issue we experienced for a short time earlier this evening.

“We’ve apologised to customers for delays to their flights and ensured they were able to reach their destinations as planned.”

Earlier media reports suggested dozens of flights were grounded and that communications systems were affected.

One X user pictured people queueing on the tarmac in Verona, Italy. “What has happened to the nations airline? Not fit for purpose,” they said.

Replying to another X user BA said: “Our website is down. We are doing all we can to return online as soon as possible.

“Hopefully not too long before the Captain has his load sheet. Thanks for your understanding. Have a good journey when it is safe for you to be airborne.”

A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport said: “We are aware of a technical issue that British Airways are investigating, and we will be working with them to provide updates to passengers as soon as they are available. Heathrow systems are operating as normal.”

In June many British Airways (BA) flights in Heathrow were delayed by several hours by a “technical fault” with baggage handling.

BA said there had been a “temporary technical fault” which had disrupted its baggage system at the airport and had apologised for the problems it caused.

In January “intermittent issues” with the airline’s app and website meant customers could not access them.

BA’s customer score for long-haul flights was the joint third lowest out of 17 carriers analysed by Which? in February.

UK

Parts of UK braced for ‘disruptive snow’ after coldest night of the season

Published

6 hours ago

November 18, 2024

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Parts of UK braced for 'disruptive snow' after coldest night of the season

The UK is being warned to brace for a further cold snap with “disruptive snow” set to sweep in across parts of the country as temperatures plummet.

The Met Office has issued three new yellow weather alerts for snow and ice from Monday.

The forecaster has warned up to 20cm of snow may accumulate in the worst affected areas as the country experiences its “first taste of winter”.

Check the forecast in your area

It comes as the first amber cold health alerts of the season have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) covering all of England, except the South, until 6pm on Saturday.

An amber warning is issued when the weather is likely to “cause significant impacts across health and social care services”, according to the HSA.

That includes the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among older people or those with health conditions.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: “It is vital to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather. Particularly if they are elderly or otherwise at increased risk.”

Meanwhile yellow health alerts – the second lowest alert level – are in place for the South East, South West and London.

Temperatures dropped to -7.8C (18F) in Tulloch Bridge in the Scottish Highlands in the early hours of Monday, which is the lowest temperature the UK has seen since last winter.

Snow dusted grounds across Aberdeenshire, including at Glenshee Ski Centre and at Corgarff, as well as alongside the A939 near The Lecht in the Cairngorms.

Snow also blanketed the mountain of Ingleborough, while there was a sprinkling of frost near Clapham, in the Yorkshire Dales.

More expected in coming days

Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey said snow has mostly fallen on hilltops so far, with 2cm falling in Lerwick, Shetland.

But more snow and ice is expected over the coming days, with temperatures plunging to below average levels for the time of year.

“It is going to be quite a widely cold week,” Ms Maxey said. “A few degrees below average both day and night for most of the country.”

The fresh warning for Northern Ireland comes into force from 3pm today and runs until 10am on Tuesday.

The alert takes in the likes of Newry, Belfast, Omagh, Derry and Ballycastle.

The warning in Scotland comes into force from 4pm and runs until 10am on Wednesday.

The alert covers the Highlands and Islands and the northeast of the country, including Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray.

A third warning – stretching across parts of England and Wales – comes into force at 7pm and runs until 10am on Tuesday.

East Midlands, Yorkshire, and the north of England are expected to be worst hit.

‘Slight chance’ communities could be cut off

Those in the impacted areas have been told power cuts are possible and mobile phone coverage might be affected.

The Met Office has said there is a “slight chance” some rural communities could be cut off and that bus and train services may be delayed or cancelled.

People have also been warned to be careful not to slip or fall on icy surfaces.

Snow ‘even down to lower levels’

Tom Morgan, Met Office meteorologist, said: “We could see some disruptive snow in the Pennine regions, in particular, the Peak District as well, especially Monday night, but we could well see some impacts lasting on until Tuesday morning’s rush hour.

“Even down to lower levels, we could well see some snow as well, so quite a bit of disruption possible by Tuesday morning, and then the week ahead is likely to stay cold nationwide, a windy day on Tuesday, and then winter showers through the week ahead.”

Mr Morgan said that despite a “mild” start to the month, the cold conditions are more typical of “mid-winter to late-winter”.

“What we can say is that it’s going to be very cold for the time of year, there will be widespread overnight frosts, and a few locations where there’s snow on the ground,” he continued.

Changes to weather warnings ‘likely’ in coming days

In southern England, a typical maximum temperature for this time of year is 11C (52F), but daytime highs for the week ahead are forecast to be around 5C (41F), while some parts of Scotland will reach “only just above freezing”, Mr Morgan said.

Mr Morgan said the public can best prepare for the wintry weather by checking their cars are suitable for icy and potentially snowy conditions and to take extra supplies including food, blankets and a fully charged mobile phone with them on journeys.

He added there were “likely” to be changes to the weather warnings in the coming days, and that “winter flurries” could be seen in the south of England later in the week.

Despite the cold conditions, the “whole of the UK” will enjoy more sunshine this week, he said.

He added: “There’ll be some snow showers in the peripheries of the UK, particularly northern Scotland, and down the east and the west coast, but if you live inland and you live in the south, there’ll be lots of sparkly blue skies on the most days through Tuesday to Friday.”