Radiotherapy And Hyperthermia For Breast Cancer

Background In the situation of an inoperable local recurrence after mastectomy and pre-irradiation, various international guidelines recommend local radiotherapy in combination with local, superficial hyperthermia. Objective Scientific basis and practical implementation of radiotherapy in combination with local surface hyperthermia. Materials and methods Literature search, presentation and evaluation of studies, explanation of the course of treatment. Results Local superficial hyperthermia with local re-irradiation provides an effective therapeutic approach to treat even extended, inoperable local recurrences of breast cancer. It enables further radiotherapy even in patients who have already been pre-irradiated and even repeatedly pre-irradiated. In palliative therapy, it can obtain high and long-lasting local control, which is beneficial for the quality of life by avoiding tumor-related local complications (pain, ulcerations, bleeding, itching, cancer en cuirasse, unmanageable nursing situations). The hypofractionated therapy approach with only one or two therapy sessions per week is particularly suitable in the palliative treatment situation for even seriously ill patients. With its contactless and thermography-controlled application, it is physically not very stressful and also noninvasive.