Prognostic Analysis of Survival in Small Breast Cancers

Abstract

Small tumor size does not affect survival. Although risk profiles for nodal involvement can be constructed to help guide the practice of selective axillary lymphadenectomy in patients with small invasive breast cancers, these factors cannot serve as a surrogate to nodal status in establishing patient prognosis. Nodal status remains the most powerful determinant of survival in breast cancer patients, even those with very small tumors.