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Due to advances in science, researchers can determine a woman's risk of breast cancer by examining her genes, family history and other risk factors. Women who are categorized as high risk for the disease can take preventative measures, such as frequent mammograms or even preventative surgery. However, mammograms can be painful and uncomfortable and there are often other risks involved with surgeries. Now, according to a new study, a drug might be able to halve the risk of breast cancer for at-risk women.

For this study, the researchers examined 4,000 postmenopausal women who had a history of breast cancer within their family lines. The researchers gave half of the women a drug called anastrozole, sold as Arimidex. They took 1mg of the drug every single day whereas the other half received a placebo drug. At the end of five years, the researchers found that 40 women in the drug group had developed cancer. In the placebo group, 85 women were diagnosed with breast cancer.

Anastrozole is a part of a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. It works by reducing the production of the hormone, estrogen, which can contribute to the progression of breast cancers. Aromatase inhibitors are the most effective when used by postmenopausal women. Currently the three approved aromatase inhibitors are used to treat recurrent tumors. The researchers had set out to find whether or not this group of drugs can be used to prevent breast cancer from developing in the first place.

"Our priority now is ensuring that as many women as possible can benefit from these new findings. Prevention is an important tool in the fight against breast cancer," said study author Jack Cuzick, the head of Queen Mary University of London's Centre for Cancer Prevention reported by TIME.

The study was published in The Lancet and it was presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.