[Treatment results of early breast cancer: a retrospective review].
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer will develop in one out of ten women during their lifetime. Early diagnosis has increased in recent years.


OBJECTIVE
To describe a population of women with breast cancer stage T1N0M0. To analyze radiation therapy toxicity and to evaluate treatment results.


METHODS
Retrospective review of the medical records of 125 women (aged 35 to 80 years) with breast cancer T1N0M0, that were treated between January 1997 and May 2004, with breast conserving surgery and postoperative radiation therapy at an oncology center. Patients lost from follow up were contacted by telephone.


RESULTS
An abnormal screening mammography was the reason for consult in 62% of cases. The average tumor size was 11.6 mm. Tumors detected with screening mammogram were smaller than those detected on physical exam. The most common radiotherapy toxicity was erithema, which was severe in 2.5% of cases. No patient had to stop the radiation treatment due to toxicity. One patient developed arm edema. Tamoxifen was prescribed for 5 years to 80% of patients and 17 patients received chemotherapy. After an average follow up of 40 months, no patient has developed local breast relapse, three patients developed contralateral breast cancer and three developed distant metastasis. Two patients died from breast cancer. Disease free survival was 95%.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiotherapy was well tolerated and had excellent local control. Screening mammography detects small tumors. Survival is excellent for early stage breast cancer.
Sánchez
César
C
Departamento de Hematología-Oncología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile.
Bustos
Marisa
M
Camus
Mauricio
M
Alvarez
Manuel
M
Goñi
Ignacio
I
León
Augusto
A
Besa de C
Pelayo
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000628:therapy; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000628:therapy; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen