Radiotherapy is an effective palliative modality: An unusual response of recurrent malignant axillary lymphadenopathy of breast primary progressive on combination chemotherapy A case report.

Abstract Since it's inception, radiotherapy has played a pivotal role in palliation of symptoms in progressive incurable stages of malignancies. Radiotherapy has been employed to decrease cancer induced bone pain, control bleeding and mass effects from inoperable tumor with significant success. Advent of new systemic anti-neoplastic drugs have broadened options available for management of cancers in palliative intent. Outcome of systemic anti-neoplastic therapy in the role of palliation has received variable acceptance and role while radiotherapy has remained as the workhorse for palliation across institutes. Case Report: A young female with diagnosis of left sided breast cancer who had not received adjuvant whole breast radiotherapy following lumpectomy and anthracycline based chemotherapy had an axillary lymphnode recurrence three years later. Though the recurrence was salvaged with a radical mastectomy and followed up with a combination of taxane and platin based chemotherapy there was recurrence of axillary lymph nodes during the course. Following six cycles of combination chemotherapy the mass progressed to form large ulcer with pain and discharge that not only responded to palliative radiotherapy by complete healing of the ulcer but it also led to improvement in overall performance score and quality of life as measured objectively.