Hypofractionated breast irradiation in elderly cancer parients: A Brazilian pilot study.

178 Background: In 2025, Brazil will be the 6th country in the world with the most aged population represented by elderly (15% above 60 years). Nowadays, life expectance is around 65 years old and there is not sufficient data about cancer management in the elderly. Breast cancer is generally detected in more advanced stages and not well treated due to the other medical conditions. The hypofractionation garantees the same local control with mild acute reactions and no functional late complications in a shorter treatment time. Methods: The pilot study addressed the acute local morbidid and the local control of fourteen patients (stages I to III), median age 78 years that received one single 6.5 Gy weekly dose in 5-7 fractions with 6MV photons or 6MeV electrons to the breast or thoracic grid using tangential fields or direct field, accordingly to the patients anatomy (from August 2006 to April 2008). The total dose ranged from 32.5 Gy to 45.5 Gy. The supraclavicular nodes were treated if >= 4 axillary nodes ...