Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Bradford Campaigners Hail 'Amazing' Cancer Treatment

By Daniel Lynch & Emma Wilkinson

A West Yorkshire woman who had both breasts removed because she was at high risk of developing cancer has told BCB that a new treatment is an "amazing" development. 

A new drug, which could the reduce risk of developing breast cancer by up to forty per cent, has been recommended to be made available on the NHS by medical watchdog NICE.

Women who test positive for a gene which increases the risk of breast cancer will be given the treatment which over five years could significantly reduce their chances of developing the disease.

It provides an alternative to women who, if diagnosed, faced the prospect of a mastectomy as the only meaningful preventative measure.

Tracey Barraclough had both her breasts, her ovaries and womb removed when she was found to be at high risk. Both her mother and grandmother died of ovarian cancer and Tracey had the same gene which causes the disease.

Tracey said: "It's really important to have options. None of my family did, it was too late for all of them. To have options is vital mentally and emotionally."

She believes the new treatment could be important to lots of Bradford women:


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