Radical radiation therapy of breast cancer

The 5 year results of radical radiation therapy in operable, infiltrating breast cancer (T1, T2, T3; NO, N1a, N1b) in 177 patients are presented. The treatment protocol included a pre-radiotherapy tumorectomy for T1 and certain T2 tumors (those less than 3cm diameter). Patients with larger tumors were treated by radiotherapy alone. The treatment technique incorporated both conventional fractionated radiotherapy (60 Co and electrons) and endocurietherapy (192 Ir). At 5 years, the uncorrected, disease-free survival rates were 84 % for T1, 79% for T2 and 56% for T3: loco-regional persistent or recurrent disease was seen in 4.5 % of patients with Tl disease, 7.5 % of those with T2, and 23 % of T3 patients; 16 mastectomies had been performed. Of the patients with T1 and T2 disease, 95 % had retained their breast and the esthetic result was judged to be good in 75 %. We recommend this technique of radical radiotherapy in early breast cancer because of this high rate of tumor control, associated with a low rate of normal tissue damage and survival figures comparable to those achieved by radical surgery.