Treatment of primary breast cancer without mastectomy. The Los Angeles community experience and review of the literature.

Between 1977 and 1983, 150 women with primary breast cancer, ranging in age from 26 to 84, were treated with a breast-sparing procedure involving lumpectomy, axillary node dissection, external beam radiotherapy, and 192-iridium implant. Median follow-up to date is 46+ months, with a range of 14 to 96+ months. All surviving patients have been followed for a minimum of 24+ months. Actuarial disease-free survival projected to 8 years is 79% for the entire group, 100% for the five noninfiltrating intraductal cancer patients, 97% for the 71 Stage I patients, and 68% for the 74 Stage II patients. Eighteen of the 150 patients (12%) have developed local recurrences thus far. Five (3%) have developed second, nonbreast, primary tumors. This community-based study, examined together with other published reports of similar procedures and compared to published results following mastectomy, helps confirm lumpectomy-radiotherapy as a legitimate approach to the management of primary breast cancer.