The Treatment of Stage I and II Carcinoma of the Breast With Mastectomy and Axillary Dissection Versus Excisional Biopsy, Axillary Dissection, and Definitive Irradiation

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Female patients of any age with a dominant breast mass meeting the following requirements are eligible for this protocol:

On clinical evaluation the tumor must be confined to the breast and axillary lymph nodes (stage I and II).

Biopsy of the tumor must be classified as a primary breast neoplasm of epithelial origin.

Patients must be geographically accessible for follow-up and willing to return for the follow-up at the NCI.

Patient must be mentally competent to understand and give informed consent for the protocol.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Patients will be excluded from this protocol for the following reasons:

Advanced local disease or distant metastases (stage III and IV);

Inflammatory cancer;

Chronic diseases such as heart, lung, liver, kidney, blood, or metabolic disorders which may render the patient a poor operative risk;

History of another cancer other than skin cancer (non-melanoma);

Concurrent pregnancy or lactation;

Non-palpable lesions manifested only by nipple discharge or skin rash (Paget's disease);

Previous therapy to the breast cancer other than excisional biopsy;

Multiple masses or multiple suspicious areas on mammogram unless all but one are proven histologically benign; and

Bilateral breast carcinoma, either invasive or in-situ.