Early skin reactions of breast cancer patients following irradiation with cobalt 60 or electrons beam

ABSTRACT

Early skin reactions following irradiation with Cobalt-60 or electrons 8 Mev were evaluated. All studied were done prospectively with standardizied skin area, field size and radiation quality. All patients [52] were females with cancer breast and attended to NEMROCK after mastectomy. 25 patients [group A] received their post-operative irradiation on Cobalt-60. 27 patents [group B], received their treatment with electrons beam 8 Mev. Scoring of acute skin reaction used [brisk erythema] as a clinical assay of early skin reaction after different dose schedules. The patients were scored regularly. The number of patients at risk for a prescribed score versus time was calculated with life-table method. The early effects after 5x 2.0 Gy/wk, in dose of 50 Gy/5 weeks/25 treatments was evaluated. The risk of development of brisk erythema showed a significant difference between electron beam irradiated group [group B] and Cobalt 60 group [group A] at the end of the 3rd week of irradiation