By Laura Elvin

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 that 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 that has the potential to turn into breast cancer, as well as making it easier for healthy cells to turn into cancerous ones.

Blocking these effects of progesterone could be a new

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