[Curative radiotherapy with hope of saving the breast in operable breast cancers 403 cases with 5-year survival]. / Radiothérapie curative à espérance conservatrice des cancers du sein opérables. 403 cas de 5 ans

ABSTRACT

Between 1960 and 1975, 1 078 operable mammary carcinomas were treated by caesium therapy with the objective of conserving the breast. The authors analyse the indications for and results of this treatment in the 403 cases which have had more than 5 years follow up (241 cases were irradiated as primary treatment, 162 after having a simple tumorectomy). For the whole group 92 mastectomies were ultimately carried out in 30 of them no tumour was found in the operative specimen. The tumorectomy cases, restricted to stage 1 of the UICC classification (pre 1962) -- PRV 0 IGR yielded the best results: 86 per cent 5 yeat cures with 9 out of 10 women retaining both breasts. The primary irradiation cases, all types considered, gave results comparable with those for primary radical surgery 58 per cent 5 year cures-but 2 out of 3 women retained both breasts. By itself caesium therapy is capable of eradicating tumour in breast and axilla in half of the cases. It really amounts to a "double chance strategy"--an attempt at cure if possible with avoidance of mastectomy, this being in reserve in the event of failure.