Intraoperative Electron Beam Radiotherapy Boost in Treating Patients With Stage I-II Breast Cancer Undergoing Surgery With Reconstruction

Inclusion Criteria:

Pathologically proven diagnosis of breast cancer

Clinical node negative stage I (T1N0) or stage II (T2N0) breast cancer

Preoperative ultrasound of the axilla with biopsy of suspicious nodes is recommended as clinically indicated per the discretion of the treating physician
Appropriate stage for protocol entry including no clinical evidence for distant metastases based upon the following minimum diagnostic workup
History/physical examination, documentation of weight and Zubrod performance status 0-2 within 28 days prior to study entry
Right and left mammography within 90 days of diagnostic biopsy establishing diagnosis
Absolute neutrophil count > 1800 cells/cubic mm
Platelets >= 75,000 cells/cubic mm
Hemoglobin >= 8 g/dL
Women of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 14 days of study entry
Women of childbearing potential must be non-pregnant and non-lactating and willing to use medically acceptable form of contraception during radiation therapy
Patients must provide study specific informed consent prior to study entry

Exclusion Criteria:

Clinical T4, N2 or N3, M1 pathologic stages III or IV breast cancer
Prior invasive non-breast malignancy (except non-melanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix) unless disease free for a minimum of 3 yrs prior to study entry
Prior invasive or in-situ carcinoma of the breast (prior lobular breast carcinoma in situ [LCIS] is eligible)
Two or more cancers not resectable through a single lumpectomy incision
Bilateral breast cancer
Ductal breast carcinoma in situ (DCIS) only
Non-epithelial breast malignancies such as sarcoma/lymphoma
Male breast cancer
Paget's disease of the nipple
Prior radiotherapy to the breast or prior radiation to the region of the ipsilateral breast that would result in overlap of radiation fields
Pregnancy or women of childbearing potential who are sexually active and not willing/able to use medically acceptable forms of contraception
Active systemic lupus, erythematosus, or any history of scleroderma, dermatomyositis with active rash
Medical, psychiatric or other condition that would prevent the patient from receiving the protocol therapy or providing informed consent