Multicenter prospective evaluation of skin toxicity risk factors in patients treated for early-stage breast cancer

The French multicenter prospective CANTO skin study investigated risk factors for skin toxicity (erythema, fibrosis, telangiectasia, and changes of skin color) in patients treated for early breast cancer. The prevalence of toxicities varied over time after treatment, e.g at 0-6 months 30.4% of patients had erythema and 17.7% had fibrosis, while at 60 months only 2% had erythema while fibrosis remained stable at 19%. Risk factors for skin toxicities were obesity, type of surgery, age of the patient, comorbidity, and for skin color change also use of tobacco and alcohol.