Breast cancer prevention been in the spotlight, thanks to a famous face: Angelina Jolie. The actress recently revealed she underwent a double mastectomy to drop her cancers of cancer dramatically: From 87 percent to less than 5 percent. Now, new developments are being made so that such a drastic move is no longer the only option to decrease high risk of cancer. Following in the United States' footsteps, today in the United Kingdom, there is now another option, and one that's much less invasive: a daily pill.
This news comes just two months after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a similar recommendation to American doctors. Britain's National Institute of Health and Care Excellence advised the nation's National Health Service to offer drugs tamoxifen or raloxifene for a period of five years for women over 35 with a family history of the disease, putting them at moderate to high risk for developing breast cancer. This differs from the U.S. edict, which only applies to women aged 40 to 70.
In both the U.S. and the U.K., the drugs are only being offered to women with a high risk of developing cancer — women who qualify as low risk are not eligible. The preventative use of drugs such as tamoxifen and raloxifene has been heavily debated, but with the U.S. and the U.K backing the drugs as preventative measures, it seems likely that more will follow in their support.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
I'm an Associate Editor at the Business of Fashion, where I edit and write stories about the fashion and beauty industries. Previously, I was the brand editor at Adweek, where I was the lead editor for Adweek's brand and retail coverage. Before my switch to business journalism, I was a writer/reporter at PEOPLE.com, where I wrote news posts, galleries and articles for PEOPLE magazine's website. My work has been published on TheAtlantic.com, ELLE.com, MarieClaire.com, PEOPLE.com, GoodHousekeeping.com and in Every Day with Rachael Ray. It has been syndicated by Cosmopolitan.com, TIME.com, TravelandLeisure.com and GoodHousekeeping.com, among other publications. Previously, I've worked at VOGUE.com, ELLE.com, and MarieClaire.com.
-
Anna Sawai Is 'Shōgun's Not-So-Secret Weapon
The actress discusses the FX miniseries’ climactic penultimate episode and Mariko’s heartbreaking [spoiler].
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Taylor Swift Is Celebrating the Release of ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ With a Pop-Up Poetry Library
Anticipation is building as fans anxiously wait to hear the singer's eleventh studio album.
By Danielle Campoamor Published
-
Met Gala 2024 Details: The Theme, A-List Attendees, and More
Find all the information on its theme, attendees, and how to watch the year's most anticipated night in fashion.
By Emma Childs Published
-
Senator Klobuchar: "Early Detection Saves Lives. It Saved Mine"
Senator and breast cancer survivor Amy Klobuchar is encouraging women not to put off preventative care any longer.
By Senator Amy Klobuchar Published
-
How Being a Plus-Size Nude Model Made Me Finally Love My Body
I'm plus size, but after I decided to pose nude for photos, I suddenly felt more body positive.
By Kelly Burch Published
-
I'm an Egg Donor. Why Was It So Difficult for Me to Tell People That?
Much like abortion, surrogacy, and IVF, becoming an egg donor was a reproductive choice that felt unfit for society’s standards of womanhood.
By Lauryn Chamberlain Published
-
The 20 Best Probiotics to Keep Your Gut in Check
Gut health = wealth.
By Julia Marzovilla Published
-
Simone Biles Is Out of the Team Final at the Tokyo Olympics
She withdrew from the event due to a medical issue, according to USA Gymnastics.
By Rachel Epstein Published
-
The Truth About Thigh Gaps
We're going to need you to stop right there.
By Kenny Thapoung Published
-
3 Women On What It’s Like Living With An “Invisible” Condition
Despite having no outward signs, they can be brutal on the body and the mind. Here’s how each woman deals with having illnesses others often don’t understand.
By Emily Shiffer Published
-
The High Price of Living With Chronic Pain
Three women open up about how their conditions impact their bodies—and their wallets.
By Alice Oglethorpe Published