Stage IA & IB Treatment Options

tumor less than or equal to 2 cm; the cancer has not spread outside the breast; no lymph nodes involved (IA) OR
no tumor in the breast; instead, small groups of cancer cells greater than 0.2 mm but not greater than 2 mm are found in the lymph nodes (IB) OR
tumor in the breast less than 2 cm AND small groups of cancer cells greater than 0.2 mm but not greater than 2 mm in the lymph nodes (IB)

total mastectomy; radiation after mastectomy only rarely needed

OR

lumpectomy plus radiation

OR

very occasionally, lumpectomy alone, with or without internal radiation -- only for a limited subset of women

sentinel lymph node biopsy, also known as sentinel lymph node dissection (preferred approach)

OR

axillary lymph node biopsy

chemotherapy may be given to reduce the risk of recurrence

hormonal therapy used for people with hormone-receptor-positive cancer

targeted therapy may be used for women with cancers that have certain characteristics (for example, cancers with too many HER2 receptors)

does not apply