[Role of radiation therapy in the complex treatment of breast cancer].

The survival rate in breast cancer patients depending on the radiotherapy method employed was analysed. Based on the longterm follow-up of 1385 patients, it is shown that of all the methods of radiotherapy the preoperative irradiation, including the primary tumor site and all zones of regional metastatic spread, seems to be most preferable. Postoperative radiotherapy is a less advantageous technic, and it may be in use in case of lymphnodes metastases and an evident violation of anablastic principles during the operation. An accessory use of chemotherapy would improve the prognosis for breast cancer patients.