A retrospective clinical study published in 2006 indirectly supports the proposed study: In this study breast cancer patients were treated per-operatively with a COX inhibitor (diclofenac) along with local blockade of the sympathetic and pain pathways (paravertebral anesthesia). These treatments no doubt lowered the use of opiates during and after surgery. Among patients thus treated a three fold decrease in recurrence rates was found three years after surgery (21). Of note, this study quotes the previously mentioned study in rats (6,22) and involves the same interventions.