An anesthetic injection into a collection of nerves in the neck may reduce the severity and frequency of hot flashes and night awakenings in breast cancer survivors.

The researchers use guided X-ray to correctly position an injection which numbs a star shaped group of nerves that regulate body temperature that affects sleep -- the stellate ganglion block. It takes about 10 minutes.

The block has been preformed in 13 breast cancer survivors as part of a pilot study conducted by Dr. Eugene Lipov and Dr. Jaydeep Joshi of Advanced Pain Centers, in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

"Estrogen-depleting drugs used in the fight against breast cancer often leave women's bodies defenseless against debilitating hot flashes and the sleep disturbances they cause," Lipov said in a statement.

"This small pilot study conducted in breast cancer survivors confirms our earlier research on healthy menopausal women that the stellate ganglion block can effectively 'shut off' these troubling symptoms.."

The findings are published online ahead of print in June's The Lancet Oncology.