Acute skin reactions in postoperative breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy plus adjuvant chemotherapy.

A group of 26 patients with operable carcinoma of the breast received postoperative radiotherapy plus adjuvant chemotherapy. Acute skin reactions were studied by clinical observation. There was a statistically significant difference (P less than .01) in the acute skin reactions in the chest wall area in those who received chemotherapy (81%) compared to the controls who received only radiotherapy (33%). Acute skin reactions began at the completion of postoperative radiotherapy and reached maximum severity 1-2 weeks later. They usually subsided after 4-6 weeks. No skin reactions were observed in the parasternal, supraclavicular fossa, or axillary regions. On the basis of these findings, postoperative radiotherapy combined with adjuvant chemotherapy is probably beneficial.