In today's health matters, beta blockers may stop breast cancer from spreading.

Cancer experts are to carry out a major study to see if commonly used blood pressure drugs cut the risk of breast cancer spreading.

Data from 800 patients has already shown those previously given beta blockers had half the chance of their cancer spreading, than women who had not. So-called secondary cancers have a high death rate.

The cancer research study, backed by the UK, will look at about 30,000 patients, and will report next year.

If that too shows benefits from the medication, further research in which breast cancer patients would be treated with beta blockers, would follow.