Scottish approval for cancer drug

An initial 150 women with breast cancer will receive the drug

Women with breast cancer are set to benefit from a new drug, Femara, which has been approved for use in Scotland.

The drug, which has not yet been cleared for the same use in England and Wales, should improve the survival chances for certain kinds of cancer.

Although just 150 women will benefit initially, that number will rise to more than 1,600 over five years.

Until now Femara, which is also known as Letrozole, has only been recommended for use after other treatments.

Doctors have welcomed the announcement but warn that the drug is not a miracle cure and will only help certain patients.

Clinical trials showed that it cut the recurrence of breast cancer.

A different approval process for drugs in Scotland means they are often cleared for use ahead of England and Wales.

Women living south of the border will not hear whether Femara has been given the same approval until later in the year.