The hallmark of Stage III is a big tumor [over 2 in. (5 cm)] with involvement of the axillary lymph nodes on the same side as the cancer or with fixation of the lymph nodes to one another or to other structures. If the lymph nodes inside the chest are involved or the tumor extends into the chest wall or involves and ulcerates the skin, the lesion is Stage IIIB.
Standard Treatment This stage is generally regarded as operable and is treated aggressively. Control for long periods is possible, but more often than not the tumor ultimately recurs. Treatment plans often use surgery, radiation and chemotherapy in varying sequences.
Initial surgical treatment is a modified radical or radical mastectomy . Several months of chemotherapy may be given before surgery to try to shrink or eliminate the tumor and make it easier to remove surgically, and this may improve survival. Combinations that have been extensively used in this manner include CMF (Cytoxan + methotrexate + 5-FU) and CAF or FAC (Cytoxan + Adriamycin + 5-FU).
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are generally given after surgery.
