Breakthrough breast cancer drug

A new drug was hailed today as the biggest breakthrough in breast cancer therapy for 30 years.

Arimidex is said to be more effective in preventing a recurrence than tamoxifen - which is taken by some 70 per cent of sufferers - but also to have fewer side effects.

Women using Arimidex after surgery were 77 per cent less likely to develop cancer in the other breast, compared to 54 per cent on tamoxifen, a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology heard in Florida.

Dr Jeffrey Tobias, of University College Hospital, London, a lead investigator in the trial, said: "We believe Arimidex is the biggest breakthrough since tamoxifen nearly 30 years ago."