Stage IIA implies either a small primary lesion (less than 2 cm/ 3/4 in.) and positive axillary lymph nodes or a larger primary lesion (between 2 and 5 cm/ 3/4 and 2 in.) without positive nodes.
Stage IIB consists of a primary lesion between 2 and 5 cm ( 3/4 and 2 in.) and positive axillary nodes or a very large tumor (greater than 5 cm/2 in.) with no axillary metastases.
Standard Treatment Stage IIA and IIB cancers can often be cured with various surgical procedures. Conservative surgery that removes only a portion of the breast, followed by radiation therapy , has been shown to be equivalent to more radical surgery for tumor control (for tumors smaller than 4 cm/1 1/2 in.).
