Breast cancer developing in four women cured of Hodgkin's disease

Four patients developed breast cancer 11 to 17 years after treatment for Hodgkin's disease. Three patients received radiotherapy only, and one received radiation plus chemotherapy. This study is in keeping with the report by Nelson and associates that with duration of follow-up exceeding 10 years, there is an increase of breast cancer in women treated for Hodgkin's disease that is similar to or greater than the risk of breast cancer in women treated with radiation for benign breast disease and is probably independent of chemotherapy.