The advantages of intense preoperative irradiation in combined therapy of breast cancer

The therapeutic, social and economic aspects of the efficacy of intense preoperative irradiation in combined therapy of breast cancer were analysed. The sUmmary dose of 24 Gy within 8-10 days followed by surgery 1-3 days after irradiation does not either complicate its performance or the course of the postoperative period, and by the short- and long-term results it is no worse than the routine dose fractionation. Large dose fractionation saves the time of preoperative irradiatio reduces the time of inpatientstay enables most of the patients after treatment to resume work 1.2-2 mos. earlier than after the routine dose fractionation. Preoperative irradiation in the form of large dose fractionation reduces the time of treatment, does not change its efficacy and provides for a gr.eater economic effect