Study Finds Longer Course Of Tamoxifen Treatment Cuts Breast Cancer Deaths

The finding that women should be taking the drug for twice as long as is now customary came out of a study of nearly 7,000 women from 36 countries.

The New York Times: Bigger Role Seen For Breast Cancer Drug
The widely prescribed drug tamoxifen already plays a major role in reducing the risk of death from breast cancer. But a new study suggests that women should be taking the drug for twice as long as is now customary, a finding that could upend the standard that has been in place for about 15 years (Pollack, 12/5).

USA Today: Long-Term Treatment Cuts Breast Cancer Deaths
Tamoxifen, which has been used for decades, is far cheaper than most new chemotherapies and biological drugs, which cost thousands of dollars a month. A generic version costs about $100 a month in the USA, according to Susan G. Komen for the Cure (Szabo, 12/5).