Post mastectomy radiotherapy of early breast cancer

The postoperative radiotherapy had proved its contribution to the management of the third and forth clinical stages of the breast cancer, whereas there are contradictory opinions about its role in the early stages of the disease. 60 patients in the first stage and 673 patients in the second stage of breast cancer, subjected to radiotherapy after radical excision, are analysed. As a control group 21 mastectomed patients being not subjected to postoperative radiotherapy are observed. The overall survival, local recurrences and remote metastases in both groups are compared and discussed against the available literature data. The trend to prolongation of the remission period is observed. The somatic changes - pneumonitis and olexitis - are reduced under 5%. No data of carcinogenesis in the irradiated contingent are registered. The overall survival time has a tendency to increase. Based on the results received, the authors recommend to include the postoperative radiotherapy in management of early breast cancer. 2 tabs., 2 figs., 19 refs. (orig.)