New breast cancer surgery ‘will have huge impact’

A new breast cancer treatment developed at Cardiff University could give 20,000 sufferers a “great improvement in quality of life” and ease the strain on hospital beds, according to a new report.

Professor Robert Mansel is touring UK hospitals that undertake breast cancer surgery to train surgeons with his new technique, called sentinel node biopsy, which allows the removal of fewer lymph nodes under the armpit.

The university says that the current NHS standard treatment is to remove all lymph nodes under the arm, as the cancer could spread through the nearby lymphatic system ducts. However, this is painful and it causes swelling and numbness. Professor Mansel’s method removes only the “lead” or sentinel node by using a small dose of a radioactive compound.

Professor Mansel said: “The impact of this change will be huge. The change in practice will be applicable to 20,000 women in the UK every year.”

“It will mean a great improvement in quality of life, three fewer days in a hospital bed for each patient and will be much cheaper, at around only 30 pounds per patient for the isotope and dye used in the procedure,” he added. After successful initial trials, the university reports that the Department of Health has been funding the professor’s training of the hospitals.

According to Cancer Research UK, breast cancer is the second most common in Britain after non-melanoma skin cancer. It claims that the disease kills 12,700 women each year while 41,000 diagnoses are made annually. However, breast cancer survival rates are up by a fifth in the last 10 years due to improved treatment and better detection, the charity reports.

© Adfero Ltd