A decision is yet to be made on whether women in the Isle of Man at high risk of developing breast cancer will be offered the drug tamoxifen.
In the UK the drug is to be available on the NHS to women with a family history of breast cancer.
According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, tamoxifen can cut the breast cancer risk by 40 per cent if taken daily for five years.
A statement from the island’s Department of Health said: ‘The department has, only today learnt of the UK’s revised guidelines for familial breast cancer.
‘The department tends to follow NICE guidelines, however it will need to review this revised guidance before any preferred option can be identified.
‘If the clinicians concerned support the adoption of the guideline, it will need to be considered by the Clinical Recommendations Committee.’