Attitudes and treatment outcome of breast conservation therapy for stage I & II breast cancer using peroperative iridium-192 implant boost to the tumour bed.
Breast conservation therapy for early breast cancer is an established but grossly under-utilized treatment option in India for various reasons. Breast conservation therapy was offered to 200 suitable breast cancer patients between June 1993 and June 1998. Fifty-one patients (25%) opted for breast conservation and the remaining preferred mastectomy. In patients agreeing to conservation therapy, surgery was performed first along with peroperative implantation of iridium-192 to deliver a boost. Whole breast irradiation of 45 Gy was delivered 3-4 weeks after the boost. Cosmesis was assessed at the end of 6 months from completion of therapy. The main reason for refusal of breast conservation therapy was fear of recurrence in the remaining breast (60%). There were no locoregional failures in our study at a median follow up of 42 months; one patient experienced a systemic relapse. Cosmesis was good to excellent in 80% of patients. Breast conservation therapy using peroperative iridium-192 implant provides excellent locoregional disease control and cosmesis. The results of our study indicate that patient preference for mastectomy is an important reason for the under-utilization of breast conservation therapy in India.
Department of Surgical Oncology, Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
S S
SS
Deo
B K
BK
Mohanti
N K
NK
Shukla
S
S
Chawla
V
V
Raina
P K
PK
Julka
G K
GK
Rath
D000328:Adult; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes