Carcinoma of the Breast.

In the closing years of the 19th century, William Halstead opened the door to modern-day therapy of carcinoma of the breast. His description of the radical mastectomy was rapidly accepted by the medical profession and vigorously applied to this dread disease. Shortly thereafter radiation therapy was introduced for the treatment of this malignancy. Over the succeeding years, changes in operative procedure and radiotherapeutic approach, ablative and additive hormonal therapy, and more recently chemotherapy have been added to the physicians' armamentarium. Unfortunately the rightful place of each of these modalities alone or in combination has not been defined adequately. Confusion as to the most effective application of these procedures still exists in the minds of many clinicians.

Moore and his associates seek to end this confusion by outlining their program for the treatment of this disease. Experience at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital from 1954 to 1963 forms the basis of