Treatment results of locally advanced carcinoma of the breast with radiation therapy

Nineteen patients with stage IIIb carcinoma of the breast were radically treated with radiation therapy from November 1966 through November 1976 at the Aichi Cancer Center hospital. The actuarial three and five year survival rate were 42 % and 32 %, respectively. The prognosis of the patients receiving a total dose of more than 75 Gy was better than that of less than 75 Gy, although there was no statistical difference between two groups. All five cases with a inflammatory breast cancer died within 2 years from the beginning of radiotherapy. In the majority of the cases, the first relapse appeared within 2 years after treatment. Minor complications were observed in nine cases (47.4 %), but no major complications. (author)