Bringing hope to the world, a study by doctors at Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) has indicated that a simple and low-cost intervention can drastically increase the survival rate among breast cancer patients. The revelation was made during the European Society of Medical Oncology Congress in Paris on Monday. As per the study, using local anaesthesia just before breast cancer surgery can significantly lower the risk of death and recurrence by 29% and 30% respectively.

As per the TMC doctors, this intervention will be their standard protocol for the treatment of all breast cancer patients scheduled for surgery. The study conducted by investigators indicated that injecting a commonly used local anaesthesia called lidocaine around the breast tumour minutes before the surgery, worked as an anti-cancer drug in addition to being a pain-numbing agent.

Till 2020 as per a global census, over 7.8 million women alive were diagnosed with breast cancer, in past 5 years. Making breast cancer the most prevalent cancer in the world. Reportedly, over 1.5 lac people are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in India. Out of this, approximately 90,000-1,00,000 are eligible for the surgery.

The study titled 'Effect of Peri-Tumoral Infiltration of Local Anaesthetic Prior to Surgery on Survival in Early Breast Cancer' highlighted the benefits of such a method that is cost-effective and less severe. In comparison, expensive, targeted cancer treatments like Radiation therapy, Chemo Therapy and Hormonal Therapy cost over ₹10 lakh per patient. Reportedly, they have shown far fewer benefits in early breast cancer treatment.

-With inputs from IANS