[Analysis of patients surviving for six months after irradiation of a bone metastasis]

The effects of treatment of a bone metastasis have been studied in 49 patients who survived for more than six months after radiotherapy (RT). Relief from the symptoms reached a rate as high as 91% (85/93 irradiated sites) irrespective of the primary site of the cancer. However, the survival rate and the rate of symptom relief maintenance were statistically higher in those with breast cancer (15 patients, 38 irradiated sites) than in those with a lung cancer (15, 24). The local control rate was dose dependent (TDF). High-dose irradiation, therefore is recommended to achieve a high local control rate for patients with a long life expectancy.