LA RADIOTHERAPIE, "MEDICAMENT" ESSENTIEL DE LA DOULEUR CANCEREUSE DANS LES PAYS EN DEVELOPPEMENT

isolated bone metastases ; 107 cases of multiple bone metastases ; and 60 cases of organ compression. In all, 227 localised irradiations were done on the 157 patients using gamma photons of 1,25 Mev from Cobalt 60. An equivalent dose of 45,00 Gy was delivered to the target volumes, all of average dimensions, most often by two symmetric, opposed and well balanced beams. These were treated every day at mid-thickness with patients in the dorsal decubitus. Three types of fractionning, classical, semi-concentrated, and concentrated adapted to the functional state were practised on 55 patients with normal walk, 75 others walking with the help of a stick and 37 bed-ridden re s p e c t i v e l y . The irradiation obtained complete immediate response ; global antalgic in 88 % cases, functional in 69 % cases, its tolerance was excellent, no complications, hospitalisation was r a rely neccessary and often of short duration, with a v e ry low cost. Consequently radiotherapy ought to be prescribed in first intention for the treatment of cancer pains in our environment.