Radiotherapy in the management of early breast cancer in Ibadan: outcome of chest wall irradiation alone in clinically nodes free axilla.

The study was carried out to identify the group of patients with early breast cancer [stage I and II] after surgery in which chest wall irradiation alone was given without lymphatic irradiation thus reducing morbidity and also creating room for more patients on the available limited treatment facility. 92 patients with histologically confirmed early breast cancer that attended Radiotherapy clinic between June 1995 and May 1998 that satisfied selection criteria were studied. They all received External Radiotherapy to the chest wall, meadiasternum inclusive and breast if still in-situ. All also received cytotoxic chemotherapy. Majority of the patients 67 [84.8%] were recurrence free in 2 years while 12 [15.2%] had recurrent disease, the recurrent sites were axilla 4 [5.06%], chest wall 3 [3.80%] and supraclavicular 2 [2.52%]. Average time to recurrence was 3-12 months. In view of majority being recurrence free, chest wall irradiation alone in early breast cancer [stage I and II] could be encouraged, thus creating access to treatment for more patients in centers like ours with limited therapy facilities.