It consists, according to published medical journal Lancet, in applying a single dose of radiation to the affected area during an operation

A new technique that involves applying a single dose of radiation in the area affected by breast cancer during surgery is as effective as subjecting patients to long sessions of breast cancer radiation treatment, according to a study published in the medical journal Lancet . A team from United Kingdom in 2000 proved the effectiveness of this sick new method, which consists of applying a single dose of radiation to the exact area affected by breast tumor.

Currently, women with this type of cancer usually start treatment undergoing an operation in which they removed the affected tissue, and then go through rounds of chemotherapy and radiation to eradicate any cancer cells. With the new technique, doctors use a mobile radiation machine that can be inserted into the chest to locate the exact location affected by cancer, which applied a single dose of radiation.

To reach these conclusions, the experts were tested for four years with women over 45 years. After this period, which looked at how evolved the patients treated with conventional radiotherapy sessions and those who underwent the new approach, the researchers did not note any significant differences in rates of disease recurrence.

Thus, six patients treated with the new technique suffered a relapse and there was a recurrence of cancer in five cases of patients who opted for long sessions of radiotherapy. According to the study, although no differences regarding the effectiveness of both treatments, with the new method is able to avoid the potential damage to other body organs like the heart, lungs and esophagus.

The frequency of other complications that arose during these treatments and the occurrence of toxic effects in some women was similar in both groups.

The researchers indicated that this process might be more suitable for the very ill and also minimize waiting lists in hospitals, and potentially save each year 15 million pounds (18 million euros) to the UK.