Stage 2 includes tumours between 2 and 5 cm without node involvement, tumours up to 5 cm with a few nodes affected, and certain node-positive situations. The tumour has not metastasised.
Treatment usually combines
- Surgery, often after pre-operative treatment
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted therapy depending on the profile
Some patients receive treatment before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy) to shrink the tumour first — an increasingly common and effective approach.