The Use of Pentoxifylline and Vitamin E in the Treatment of Chronic Breast Pain

Inclusion Criteria: * UICC TNM stage 0 (i.e. in situ disease), 1 or 2 breast cancer patients treated with conservative surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy with chronic breast pain or tenderness, with or without fibrosis, within 3 months to 3 years following completion of radiotherapy * Age 18 to 75 years of age * Chronic symptoms localised to the breast treated with radiation, i.e. any one or more of the following- pain (not attributable to infection) or tenderness with or without associated oedema, fibrosis, necrosis or ulceration. * Breast pain (maximum in the previous 24 hours) measurable on a Linear Analogue Scale with a length of 3cm or greater * Prior treatment with radiation to the affected area i.e. in tangential breast fields or boost area * Radiation completed at least 3 months and no longer than 3 years prior to study entry * Informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Active cellulitis in the breast * Active malignant disease * Any medical illness or condition judged likely by the local investigator to preclude safe administration of protocol treatment * Contraindication to treatment with pentoxifylline (i.e. previously exhibited intolerance to pentoxifylline or other xanthines such as caffeine, theophylline or theobromine; recent cerebral and/or retinal haemorrhage; ischaemic heart disease; hypotension * Pregnant or lactating women