Your views on anastrozole, raloxifene and tamoxifen being used as risk-reducing treatments for breast cancer

Hi everyone,

My name’s Kira and I work in the Policy, Evidence and Influencing team at Breast Cancer Now.

Can you help us shape our input into Scotland’s National Advisory Medicine Group (NCMAG) Programme review of the proposed use of anastrozole, raloxifene and tamoxifen as risk-reducing treatments for breast cancer?

You may have seen in November 2023 that NHS England’s Medicines Repurposing Programme, extended the license for anastrozole to cover it being used as a risk-reducing treatment, enabling more eligible women in England with a significant family history of breast cancer, to reduce their chance of developing the disease.

In Scotland the NCMAG is reviewing the proposed use of three treatments:

  • Anastrozole for the primary prevention of breast cancer in post-menopausal women at moderate to high risk. (On-label use and off-patent medicine)
  • Tamoxifen for the primary prevention of breast cancer in women at moderate or high risk. (On-label use and off-patent medicine)
  • Raloxifene for the primary prevention of breast cancer in post-menopausal women at moderate to high risk whom anastrozole is unsuitable. (Off-label use and off-patent medicine)

We’re looking for anyone who has a family history of breast cancer, to share your views and thoughts of what these risk-reducing treatments would have meant for you and can mean for your families. And we’d also be interested to hear from anyone who has been offered anastrozole, raloxifene, or tamoxifen ‘off-label’ as a risk-reducing treatment.

It is crucial that the NCMAG hears the voices of patients as part of their review. If you’d be happy to share your views on these treatments’ licenses being extended for risk-reduction, please email policy@breastcancernow.org by 5pm on Wednesday 7 February. Your views will be shared completely anonymously.

Thank you!

Kira