Efficacy and Toxicity of Hypofractionated Palliative Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer Patients with Skin Invasion

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the efficacy and toxicity of palliative radiotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer patients with skin invasion.
 Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.
 Place and Duration of Study: Radiotherapy Department Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, Jan 2019 to Jun 2020.
 Methodology: Patients who received palliative radiotherapy for the breast cancer and received radiation of 24 Gray in 3 fractions to the breast/ chest wall were included. Radiation toxicity was assessed using RTOG criteria as the primary outcome of the study. Radiotherapy efficacy in controlling bleeding/discharge and improving pain and odour scores were the secondary outcomes.
 Results: Twelve (80%) patients reported improvement in pain, 13/18(72.2) patients reported improvement in bleeding and 24/25 (96%) patients a decrease in pain level (p-value < 0.001). 11/25(44%) developed Grade-2 skin toxicity, and 8/25 (32%) developed Grade-3 skin toxicity. No patient experienced Grade-4 skin toxicity.
 Conclusion: Our study has shown that hypofractionated radiotherapy is effective and safe for palliation of patients with locally advanced breast cancer and skin invasion.