A prospective study of breast cosmesis for patients treated with breast conservation and radiation therapy using shorter fractionation schedules in New Zealand

Breast Cosmesis outcomes for patients treated with breast conserving surgery and hypo-fractionated radiation therapy followed over 5 years. Patients completed breast cosmesis questionnaires and photographs at pre-specified time points - after surgery and before radiation baseline, at 6 weeks, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. A panel reviewed the photographs and also completed the same questionnaires. Various patient, tumour and treatment factors were studied to determine factors that affected long term cosmesis.