Drug that cuts risk of breast cancer returning is approved for use in England

Globally, one in 20 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Photograph: Marina Krasnokutska/Alamy

Thousands of women with early breast cancer could be offered a drug to stop the cancer returning, after the medicines watchdog approved its use in England.

Up to 4,000 patients a year could be given ribociclib alongside hormone therapy, for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer, which despite initial treatment has a higher risk of returning.