Several strategies are available for primary prevention among women with an increased risk of developing breast cancer. For women with confirmed BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, or other gene mutations predisposing to breast cancer, referral to the high risk screening program at BC Cancer and counselling about cancer prevention and screening options for breast and other associated hereditary cancers is available. Referral to the Hereditary Cancer Program (PDF) is discussed further in "Referral to Hereditary Cancer Program" in the Screening subsection.

 

Three drugs have been shown to effectively reduce the risk of developing estrogen receptor positive pre invasive (ductal carcinoma in situ, DCIS) and invasive breast cancer among women with elevated risk, as determined by the sum of their risk factors using a validated risk prediction tool (including, but not restricted to, the Gail model or Tyrer-Cuzick (IBIS) model).

Tamoxifen reduces the risk of developing primary breast cancer by 50%. In the largest study, among 13,388 women randomized to tamoxifen or placebo, DCIS and invasive breast cancer occurred in the 244 placebo group and 124 in the tamoxifen group over a 5.5 year period.¹ Taking tamoxifen for five years in this population resulted in a doubling in the incidence of endometrial cancer, from 0.09% increased to 0.23%, a small increase in the incidence of stroke, from 0.36% to 0.58%, and of deep venous thrombosis (0.08 vs 0.13% per year). Other primary prevention studies have shown similar effects.^2,3 The protective effect of 5 years of tamoxifen persists after its discontinuation, to at least ten years from treatment start. There was no increase in cardiac events and there was a modest reduction in hip, wrist, and vertebral fractures in the tamoxifen group.

Raloxifene has also demonstrated reduction in both DCIS and invasive breast cancer by the same degree as tamoxifen in a large clinical trial comparing the two drugs.⁴ The advantage of raloxifene over tamoxifen is a greatly reduced incidence of postmenopausal vaginal bleeding, the need for endometrial investigations, and of endometrial cancer (incidence 0.2% for tamoxifen versus 0.12% for raloxifene). Long term follow up again shows an effect that lasts beyond five years of exposure.⁵

Exemestane, an irreversible steroidal aromatase inhibitor, has recently been shown to reduce the risk of ER+ breast cancer in postmenopausal women by 65% compared to placebo in a large prevention trial.⁶ The placebo group had a 0.55% annual incidence rate of breast cancer compared with 0.19% in the exemestane group. There was no increased incidence of cardiovascular events, second cancers, fractures, or self reported development of osteoporosis. More women on exemestane reported joint and musculoskeletal pain while on medication (30% versus 17%). Long-term follow-up is clearly warranted for more safety data and to determine the duration of the protective effect that five years of therapy provides. Ongoing trials are exploring the effectiveness of other aromatase inhibitors in this setting.

The effectiveness of secondary prevention on breast cancer mortality through screening mammography has been clearly demonstrated in randomized controlled trials, even though 10% of breast cancers will not show up on a mammogram. Asymptomatic women between the ages of 40-79 should be encouraged to have regular screening mammography at the Screening Mammography Program of BC (SMPBC) centres or mobile vans, at intervals as set out in the SMPBC. See Chapter 3. Screening/Early Detection. Appointments can be booked through 1-800-663-9203.