There’s huge excitement in the world’s media about a plan to ‘grow replacement breasts’ for victims of breast cancer.

Over a fortnight ago Australia’s government announced a $2.95 million (AU) grant for the development of an alternative to silicon in breast reconstruction.

“The technique involves the insertion of a customised biodegradable chamber which is contoured to match the woman’s natural breast shape within which the permanent fat found in breasts can be grown,” announced Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings in a press release.

That release seems to have sunk into the morass of the news-swamp with little or no notice until this week.

Australia’s Herald Sun kicked things off, reporting: “Melbourne scientists are poised to begin revolutionary surgery to help cancer victims regrow their breasts.”

Reuters followed up on 12 November, announcing, “The Melbourne-based Bernard O’Brien Institute of Microsurgery, which pioneered the procedure, said on Thursday that it hopes to develop a biodegradable chamber within 24 months, which would mean the chamber would dissolve once filled.”

And the floodgates were open.

“According to a report by CBS News partner network Sky News, researchers at the Bernard O’Brien Institute of Microsurgery in Melbourne have been developing a technique to re-grow fat tissue underneath the breast,” said the American TV network on 12 November.

“Human trials for the procedure, which scientists hope could replace breast reconstructions and implants, will start within three to six months, it was revealed in Melbourne, Australia. It is likely to be three years before the technique is fully developed, researchers said,” the Guardian said on 12 November.

“A new therapy that is intended to regrow a woman’s breast from her own cells after a mastectomy could be offered to British patients for the first time next year, The Times has learnt,” said the British paper today.

Image: Corbis