Patients' subjective evaluation of early and late sequelae in patients with breast cancer irradiated with short fractionation for breast conservation therapy: comparison with conventional fractionation.

Background: To compare the frequency of "subjective" complications and their severity between conventional and short fractionation and to analyze the differences between the two groups.

Methods: Data from 350 patients with breast cancer who received breast conservation therapy between 1992 and 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. One hundred and ninety-six patients and 154 patients received 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 35 days (group C) and 44 Gy in 16 fractions over 22 days (group S), respectively. Early sequelae were evaluated at the end of radiation therapy (point A) and 7-10 days after the treatment (point B). Late sequelae were assessed at least 6 months after the end of radiation therapy (point C).

Results: The most commonly observed toxicity at point A was erythema, followed by heat sensation, sense of discomfort, and pain. There were no significant differences in these symptoms between the two groups. The frequency of these symptoms hardly changed between points A and B. At point C a sense of hardness more frequently appeared in group S than in group C with a significant difference. Other commonly noted symptoms had no significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusions: Short fractionation results in acceptable patient "subjective" sequelae comparable to the sequelae experienced following conventional fractionation.