Stage IIA & IIB Treatment Options

tumor less than 2 cm and/or lymph nodes under the arm involved (IIA) OR
tumor greater than 2 cm and no lymph nodes under the arm are involved (IIA) OR
tumor greater than 2 cm but less than 5 cm and lymph nodes involved (IIB) OR
tumor greater than 5 cm but no lymph nodes involved (IIB)

total mastectomy; radiation after mastectomy may be needed

OR

lumpectomy plus radiation, in some cases following chemotherapy to shrink a large single cancer

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

OR

axillary lymph node biopsy

AND

possible radiation to supraclavicular and/or internal mammary lymph nodes

chemotherapy commonly recommended

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

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

does not apply