A pioneering breast cancer treatment that replaces weeks of radiotherapy with a single, targeted shot is set to be offered on the NHS.
The dose of radiation is delivered from inside the breast, once a tumour has been removed in surgery.
Up to 36,000 people would benefit in a move that should also the NHS money.
Draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said it would improve patients' quality of life.
The technique, called intra-operative radiation, is suitable only for patients who have caught their cancer early.
Currently, those patients would have surgery to remove the tumour. They would then face at least another 15 trips to hospital for radiotherapy to kill any remaining cancerous cells.
One shot wonderIntra-operative radiation is performed during surgery.
Once the tumour is removed, a probe is inserted into the breast and delivers radiation to the exact site of the cancer for about half an hour.
Tests on more than 2,000 people suggest the technique has a similar level of effectiveness as conventional radiotherapy.
However, as the technique has been developed recently, there is no long-term data available.
As well as avoiding the inconvenience of regular hospital trips, the single dose should avoid potential damage to organs such as the heart, lung, and oesophagus - which is a risk during radiation to the whole breast.
The technique works only on tumours that have not yet spread NICE said the pros and cons should be made clear to patients.
Prof Carole Longson, director of health technology evaluation at NICE, said: "Because it is still relatively new, it is only right to recommend its use in a carefully controlled way.
"This will ensure patients are fully aware of the risks and benefits before choosing which treatment to have and allow doctors to gather more information about the treatment."
Previous estimates have suggested a shift to intra-operative radiation could save the NHS £15m a year.
But the equipment is expensive - each probe would cost about £500,000.
If approved, the guidelines would be introduced in England towards the end of the year. Wales and Northern Ireland tend to follow NICE guidelines at a later date, while Scotland considers treatments separately.
Play it safeSally Greenbrook, a senior policy officer at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: "This is great news for early breast cancer patients due for breast conserving operations.
"As this is a new technology, patients will need to be made aware of the pros and cons before going ahead.
"However, this technique can greatly reduce the disruption, stress and inconvenience of what for some people can be over 15 additional trips to and from hospital as well as saving the NHS money and time."
Emma Greenwood, Cancer Research UK's head of policy, said: "This could be good news for breast cancer patients.
"Giving radiotherapy in a single dose at the time of surgery potentially offers a huge benefit, especially if it means fewer visits to hospital.
"It's essential that those who receive this radiotherapy are followed up for a long period of time to ensure the single dose is as at least as effective as the standard treatment.
"Radiotherapy is already a very effective treatment, and this technique could offer another valuable option for treating early breast cancer."
One-shot cancer therapy gets NHS nod
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