Thousands of women are spurning the opportunity to take pills which help to prevent breast cancer, research suggests.
Only one in seven who are at high risk of breast cancer are taking Tamoxifen to reduce their chances of getting the disease, a study found.
The 5p-a-day pills have been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer occurring by 30 per cent and are prescribed for five years at a time.
But many women are choosing not to take them believing cancer is ‘down to fate’ while others fear the side effects – such as hot flushes and nausea – would interfere with looking after their family.
Tamoxifen is most commonly given to women who have been treated for breast cancer to lower the risk of it recurring.
Only one in seven who are at high risk of breast cancer are taking Tamoxifen to reduce their chances of getting breast cancer, a study found
In 2013, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) also approved it for cancer prevention in women at increased risk of the disease due to a family history of breast or ovarian cancer.
The pills work by blocking the hormone oestrogen, which is known to stimulate the formation of tumour cells.
The study, funded by Cancer Research UK, found fewer than 15 per cent of eligible patients they asked were taking the drug.
They asked 258 healthy women who had been identified as having an increased risk of the disease between September 2015 and December 2016, whether they had agreed to take the drugs.
Just 38 of the women, who had an average age of 45, decided to start tamoxifen treatment.
Experts believe the findings of this snapshot are likely to be reflective of wider trends.
Women who had children were more likely to initiate chemoprevention than those without children – 17.6 per cent compared with 3.8 per cent respectively.
A further 16 women were asked about their decision in more detail and researchers found that having children was a big factor in decision-making – some women opted to take the drug to be around for their families.
Others said that they had too many commitments to take a drug and risk possible side effects, which include hot flushes and sickness, similar to the menopause.
Wider family beliefs about medication also seemed to have an effect, the authors noted ‘distrust of medications within the family resulted in more negative attitudes and beliefs towards tamoxifen uptake’.
Some told researchers they felt they were ‘predestined’ to develop cancer due to multiple family members developing and dying from cancer.
Uptake among different socio-economic groups was widely the same.
Dr Samuel Smith, study author from the University of Leeds, said: ‘While it’s reassuring a woman’s background doesn’t seem to be a barrier to taking tamoxifen, only one in seven of those at increased risk of breast cancer are taking up the option.
‘Therefore it is important doctors can discuss women’s concerns and provide information to help them while they are considering their options.
‘Further research is needed to understand if all women eligible to take tamoxifen for prevention are getting the help and support they need.’
The pills work by blocking the hormone oestrogen, which is known to stimulate the formation of tumour cells
Dr Richard Roope, Cancer Research UK’s senior clinical adviser, added: ‘When an established drug like tamoxifen is found to work not only as a treatment for breast cancer, but is also shown to reduce the risk of the disease, it seems we’re making real progress.
‘It’s valuable to understand why women might reject tamoxifen, and this research highlights there are a range of complex reasons behind the decision.
‘It’s vital more work is done to understand these barriers, improve treatments and ensure doctors are getting the support they need to help women decide whether preventative medication is right for them.
‘Whatever a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, keeping a healthy weight and cutting back on alcohol are also ways of reducing it.’
Carolyn Rogers, Clinical Nurse Specialist at charity Breast Cancer Care, said: ‘We know the drug may help reduce risk but it also comes hand in hand with side effects, including menopausal symptoms like hot flushes and low libido, which can severely disrupt day-to-day life.
‘And other options, such as risk-reducing surgery or regular screening to detect breast cancer early, can be more practical and preferable for some individuals.
‘The most important thing is that women with a high risk of breast cancer are given clear, comprehensive information so they can make the choice that is right for them.’