Prognosis of 13,526 radiation therapy patients during last 26 years

The prognosis of 13,526 radiation therapy patients in one institution over the past 26 years was analyzed. The study population consisted of 7,463 male patients and 6,063 female patients, breaking down to 2,593 head and neck cancer patients, 1,863 breast cancer patients, 1,829 esophageal cancer patients, and 1,277 brain tumor patients. In recent years, the numbers of patients with breast cancer and with prostate cancer have increased. The follow-up rate was 93.2%. The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates of all cases were 41.6% and 31.4%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates of the curative radiation therapy group and the postoperative radiation therapy group were 39.5% and 29.0%, and 59.6% and 46.6%, respectively. Late complications developed in 522 patients (3.9%), and in 10.2% patients followed up ten years or more.