A new research reportedly suggests that losing weight can boost the survival rate of a breast cancer patient.

The study reportedly found that women who lost a small amount of weight, roughly five to six pounds, were 70 percent more likely to survive some of the deadliest forms of breast cancer, according to the U.K.’s The Independent.

For the study, the Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study reportedly tracked thousands of women for two decades after they were treated for breast cancer to see if changes in diet could reduce the chances of the disease recurring, according to the U.K.’s The Telegraph. Women were reportedly put into two groups, one of which were put on a low-fat diet.

Findings that were presented to the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium reportedly show that those who lost around six pounds and maintained it for five years had lower death rates over the next two decades. The most significant differences were reportedly among the 20 percent of women who had types of cancer that are not linked to hormones.

Professor Tony Howell, director of research at the Genesis breast cancer prevention charity, reportedly stated that the new findings regarding the weight loss and the boost of survival rate for breast cancer patients were an “extraordinarily important result.”

“A 69 percent reduction in deaths in a group with few alternative treatments — that’s as good as any drug,” he stated.

Howell added, “For 20 percent of women, this is as effective as chemotherapy.”

Dr. Rowan Chlebowski, lead researcher and medical oncologist, reportedly stated that the findings were “a big signal” that diet had a far greater impact on cancer than previously thought.

Although researchers reportedly cannot be sure that these results are not an anomaly due to the small sample size, scientists are optimistic about the effect that future results might have on cancer treatments as further tests are commissioned.