WOMEN at high risk of breast cancer in East Lancashire have been urged to join in Britain's only clinical trial aimed at preventing the killer disease.

Experts today admitted that the international study to investigate whether the drug tamoxifen can prevent the disease could be under threat.

The International Breast Cancer Intervention Study has only recruited 2,200 women against the British target of 5,000 and they need more volunteers.

Research bosses claim that women from families with a high incidence of breast cancer are not aware they are eligible for the trial.

Experts believe the drug may offer the only preventive option for women with a high family risk of the condition - other than a double mastectomy.

Prof Tony Howell, a Cancer Research Campaign consultant at the Christie Hospital, Manchester, said: "The trial will help to ease the anxiety suffered by women at high risk. "Everyone entering the trial will immediately be given greater peace of mind about their breast cancer risk because they will be given a medical consultation every six months and mammogram every 12 to 18 months.

"Tamoxifen has been shown to be effective in preventing a recurrence of breast cancer, so we are very hopeful that it will also be good at stopping the disease occurring in the first place."

Studies have shown that giving women tamoxifen for more than two years after a breast cancer operation saves nearly nine per cent extra lives and cuts women's chances of developing new tumours in their other breast by more than 40 per cent.

A potential side effect is a tiny risk of contracting cancer of the womb lining .

Any woman, aged 35 to 70, who is at high family risk of breast cancer and wants more information can contact 0171 269 3151.

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