A new study at Allegheny General Hospital may throw some light on a few treatment options for preventing breast cancer. Tamoxifen is one of the options which works but creates a small risk for blood clots and uterine cancer.

The chemically similar drug Raloxifene, was compared by the local researchers. Both the drugs block the effect of the hormone estrogen on breast tissue.

About 19,000 postmenopausal women at higher risk of breast cancer were followed in a six year study. These women were assigned to take either Tamoxifen or Raloxifene daily for five years. Both the drugs work equally at preventing the disease at around 75%.

The family history, reproductive history, and breast biopsies were taken into account. The women in this study scored at least 1.66%. Though there was no difference in death between the two groups.

Dr. Gabriel Hortobagyi of the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, said, "These drugs are inexpensive with side-effects that are modest. Five years of either pill costs around $8,500, compared with $50,000 to more than $200,000 for chemotherapy to treat breast cancer".

Dr. D. Lawrence Wickerham of the Allegheny General Hospital's Breast Center will present these findings at the American Association of Cancer Research meeting to be held in Washington, D. C.