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Treatment of stages I to III breast cancer
Source: Breast Cancer Treatment by Stage, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: December 2, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
NCI patient treatment article for this disease Exact source article; not a clinically reviewed indication or current-standard recommendation.
Context: Breast Cancer Treatment by Stage
Treatment of stages I to III breast cancer
Treatment of early-stage breast cancer, which includes stages I, IIA, and some stage IIB breast cancers, usually begins with surgery to remove the cancer. Surgery is often followed by additional therapy. If the tumor is large, chemotherapy or targeted therapy may be given before surgery to make the tumor smaller and easier to remove.
Treatment of locally advanced breast cancer, which includes some stage IIB breast cancers and stages IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC, often begins with chemotherapy, followed by surgery and radiation.
Palliative care can be given at any stage of disease. It aims to improve quality of life by managing symptoms and providing support to patients and their families. Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments, such as chemotherapy, or as the focus of care. Learn more at Palliative Care in Cancer.
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Treatment of stages I to III breast cancer may include:
Surgery. Lumpectomy (breast-conserving surgery) is often used, but mastectomy may be recommended if the tumor is large or cancer is found in multiple areas of the breast or chest. The surgeon may also remove the underarm lymph node closest to the tumor in a procedure called sentinel lymph node biopsy. Learn more about Breast Cancer Surgery and Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy.
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Radiation therapy. After surgery, you will likely have radiation therapy to the breast or the chest wall where the breast was removed to reduce the chance of breast cancer returning in the breast or the chest wall. However, you may not need radiation therapy if you have a mastectomy. Learn more about Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer.
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Chemotherapy. You are more likely to receive chemotherapy if the tumor is high grade, in the lymph nodes, HER2-positive, or triple-negative. Whether chemotherapy is given before or after surgery depends on the size and location of the tumor and other factors. Learn more about Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer.
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Hormone therapy. If the cancer tests positive for estrogen receptor and/or progesterone receptor, or when the hormone receptor status of the cancer is unknown, you may receive hormone therapy as part of your treatment. Hormone therapy for breast cancer may begin before or after surgery. If you are premenopausal, you might also have treatment to stop the ovaries from making hormones. Learn more about Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer.
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Immunotherapy. This cancer treatment is only used to treat triple-negative breast cancer. Learn about this type of cancer and how it is treated at Triple-Negative Breast Cancer and Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer.
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Targeted therapy. If biomarker tests suggest that the cancer is HER2-positive, hormone-receptor positive, or has a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, you may receive targeted therapy. Targeted therapy for breast cancer may be given at different times in your treatment. It might be started before or after surgery. It can also be given even if surgery is not recommended for you. Learn more about Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer.
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Joining a clinical trial may be an option. There are different types of clinical trials for people with breast cancer. You can use the clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are accepting participants. You can also review a list of all current NCI-supported Breast Cancer Clinical Trials.
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Get live help finding a clinical trial at 1-800-4-CANCER. Learn more about clinical trials at Cancer Clinical Trial Information for Patients and Caregivers.
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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice