CANCER Research UK is appealing for post-menopausal women in Bolton to take part in a major breast cancer prevention trial.

The cancer is more common in older women, with more than 80 per cent of cases happening after the menopause.

Every year, more than 41,000 new cases are diagnosed in Britain and Cancer Research UK believes it can prevent thousands of them with the trial of a new drug, anastrozole. The drug has already been used successfully in a research trial and few side effects have been reported.

To take part, women must be be at an increased risk of breast cancer, such as someone whose mother or sister had it before the age of 50, or someone who has had two blood relatives with breast cancer at any age.

Half of the women who take part will be given anastrozole, and the other half will be given a placebo. All the participants will be given a bone scan before they start and will receive regular breast screening and monitoring throughout the five-year trial.

Women can contact Clare O'Neill at the IBIS Coordinating Centre, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ. Details are available at www.cancerhelp.org.uk or www.ibis-trials.org