A DRUG being denied to young cancer victims could save the lives of 20,000 women a year, Oxford researchers have revealed.

Tamoxifen is rarely given to young victims of breast cancer because doctors believe it does not help pre-menopausal women because of side effects.

But today Prof Richard Peto, of Oxford University will pave the way for a worldwide change in medical practice.

Findings show Tamoxifen given immediately after breast surgery greatly reduces the chances of cancer recurring.

Prof Peto, based at the Radcliffe Infirmary, said: "Tamoxifen for older women is already saving more lives than any other cancer drug. But most of the young breast cancer patients who need Tamoxifen aren't yet getting it.

"Starting Tamoxifen immediately after breast cancer prevented one in six women from relapsing and one in 12 from dying, irrespective of age."

The research, organised from Oxford, involved 30,000 women with hormone sensitive breast cancer. Within ten years of surgery about a third had relapsed and died.

Starting Tamoxifen early and continuing for five years halved the recurrence rate, irrespective of age, and improved long-term survival. But the drug produces slight risks of cancer to the lining of the womb or blood clots in the lung.

Prof Rory Collins, also of Oxford University, said: "For healthy women, even if they are at increased risk of developing breast cancer, the balance between the beneficial and adverse effects of Tamoxifen remains uncertain.

"By contrast, for women, who have already developed breast cancer the beneficial effects far outweigh any adverse effects on survival."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.