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Lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy is a treatment choice for women who are diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. Research has shown that lumpectomy with radiation is as effective as mastectomy in treating early stage breast cancer.
In this procedure, the doctor removes the breast lump and, a few days later, the lymph nodes under the arm. About 2 weeks after lymph node surgery, treatment with external radiation begins and continues for 5 to 6 weeks. When these treatments end, an extra "boost" of radiation is usually given to the area where the tumor was located. You can learn more about radiation therapy in the NCI booklets Radiation Therapy: A Treatment for Early Stage Breast Cancer and Radiation Therapy and You: A Guide to Self-Help During Treatment .