Hyperthermia conjunction with radiation therapy in breast cancer with chest wall recurrence: a preliminary report.

ABSTRACT

1. Hyperthermia is a very effective and valuable tool which produces a high degree of response in chest wall recurrent breast cancer, especially in cases, where curative doses of radiation could not be achieved, due to previous radiation treatment. 2. Hyperthermia once a week is sufficient to produce the enhancement of radiation neither increasing the burden to the patient nor increasing the workload to the department. 3. The effective radiation dose which causes no severe complication is 50 Gy in a small tumor and 60 Gy in a large tumor. 4. In small satellite nodules, whole chest wall irradiation should be considered to prevent recurrence in the adjacent area. 5. An air cooling system is effective and suitable for an ulcerative lesion. Further randomized study for long term local control and survival should be explored.