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(KSL News) -- A major breakthrough today for women at risk for breast cancer.
Two new studies show the same drug used to treat osteoporosis can reduce the risk of breast cancer by fifty percent.
Researchers say new information shows the drug raloxifene could be a better alternative than commonly used tamoxifen. Doctors say while Tamoxifen does help reduce the risk of breast cancer, it comes with two serious side effects: blood clots and uterine cancer.
Dr. Worta McCaskill-Stevens, National Cancer Institute: "Not as many women have been participating because of the side-effects of the drug. So now women have a choice."
The new drug only works in post-menopausal women and doesn't prevent non life-threatening breast cancers as well as the old one.
The FDA has not approved the drug for breast cancer use.
