Earlier this year the Forum sent out an invitation to women with a family history of breast cancer, to get involved in a Leeds University study. Lead researcher Dr Sam Smith said the study showed that some women at increased risk of breast cancer, may be reluctant to take tamoxifen. Only one in seven women chose this preventative hormonal therapy. Over 400 women at 20 different hospitals who were attending an appointment to discuss their breast cancer risk were questioned. Only one in five women believed that tamoxifen was necessary for their health. More than half of the women were worried about long-term outcomes and potential side effects. Almost a third of women thought doctors prescribed too many medicines, while just over a third believed doctors would prescribe fewer drugs if they had more time. Concerns about the nature of medicines were also common; 23% said they were very sensitive to medicines, 17% believed natural remedies were safer and 13% thought medicines were addictive. Women who reported the strongest concerns were less likely to take tamoxifen. The study, published in Clinical Breast Cancer, and funded by Cancer Research UK, suggests that clear, accurate accessible information is needed to help women make an informed decision about preventative therapy.
