Pill thousands of people already take could help prevent breast cancer View Image

A new study has revealed a 'morning after pill' drug already approved for use in the NHS could be repurposed to prevent breast cancer in pre-menopausal women. Researchers at the Manchester Breast Centre, based at The University of Manchester, found blocking the effects of the hormone progesterone, using ulipristal acetate, a drug already used on the NHS, may reduce the risk of breast cancer developing in women before the menopause who have a strong family history of the disease.

Progesterone can drive breast cancer development because it promotes the growth of a type of breast cell which has the potential to turn into breast cancer, as well as making it easier for healthy cells to turn into cancer ones

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