Naoki Nakamura1,2, Jiro Kawamori2, Osamu Takahashi3, Naoto Shikama4, Kenji Sekiguchi5, Takeo Takahashi6, Shingo Kato7, Mami Ogita8, Atsushi Motegi1, Tetsuo Akimoto1. 1. Division of Radiation Oncology and Particle Therapy, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa. 2. Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Luke's International Hospital. 3. Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, St. Luke's International Hospital. 4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Juntendo University. 5. Sonoda-kai Radiation Oncology Clinic, Tokyo. 6. Department of Radiation Oncology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Kawagoe. 7. Department of Radiation Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Hidaka. 8. Department of Radiology, the University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To clarify the efficacy of palliative radiotherapy for the relief of symptoms due to skin invasion in patients with breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a multi-institutional prospective observational study of patients who received palliative radiotherapy for skin invasion due to a primary lesion or chest wall recurrence. Bleeding/discharge, offensive odor, pain and QOL scores were evaluated before and 1, 3 and 6 months after radiotherapy. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were assessed. Sixteen patients (76%) received 36 Gy in 12 fractions. The mean (±1 SD) score of bleeding/discharge was 1.90 ± 0.89 before radiotherapy, 1.50 ± 0.74 at 1 month, 0.47 ± 0.58 at 3 months, and 0.82 ± 1.04 at 6 months (P = 0.001). The mean score of offensive odor was 1.21 ± 1.38 before radiotherapy, 0.71 ± 0.92 at 1 month, 0.20 ± 0.41 at 3 months, and 0.27 ± 0.62 at 6 months (P = 0.008). The mean score of pain was 2.90 ± 1.22 before radiotherapy, 3.05 ± 1.36 at 1 month, 3.29 ± 1.10 at 3 months, and 3.31 ± 1.54 at 6 months (P = 0.431). The mean total score of QOL-ACD/QOL-ACD-B was 126.2 ± 24.5 before radiotherapy, 130.3 ± 26.3 at 1 month, 136.2 ± 26.6 at 3 months, and 126.6 ± 32.8 at 6 months (P = 0.178). CONCLUSION: Palliative radiotherapy for skin invasion in patients with breast cancer might be effective, especially for the relief of bleeding/discharge and offensive odor.
PURPOSE: To clarify the efficacy of palliative radiotherapy for the relief of symptoms due to skin invasion in patients with breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a multi-institutional prospective observational study of patients who received palliative radiotherapy for skin invasion due to a primary lesion or chest wall recurrence. Bleeding/discharge, offensive odor, pain and QOL scores were evaluated before and 1, 3 and 6 months after radiotherapy. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were assessed. Sixteen patients (76%) received 36 Gy in 12 fractions. The mean (±1 SD) score of bleeding/discharge was 1.90 ± 0.89 before radiotherapy, 1.50 ± 0.74 at 1 month, 0.47 ± 0.58 at 3 months, and 0.82 ± 1.04 at 6 months (P = 0.001). The mean score of offensive odor was 1.21 ± 1.38 before radiotherapy, 0.71 ± 0.92 at 1 month, 0.20 ± 0.41 at 3 months, and 0.27 ± 0.62 at 6 months (P = 0.008). The mean score of pain was 2.90 ± 1.22 before radiotherapy, 3.05 ± 1.36 at 1 month, 3.29 ± 1.10 at 3 months, and 3.31 ± 1.54 at 6 months (P = 0.431). The mean total score of QOL-ACD/QOL-ACD-B was 126.2 ± 24.5 before radiotherapy, 130.3 ± 26.3 at 1 month, 136.2 ± 26.6 at 3 months, and 126.6 ± 32.8 at 6 months (P = 0.178). CONCLUSION: Palliative radiotherapy for skin invasion in patients with breast cancer might be effective, especially for the relief of bleeding/discharge and offensive odor.