In patients with relatively advanced local or axillary disease, or both, a simple mastectomy followed by irradiation gives the best local and regional control rates. From the existing data, one can state unreservedly that women with early breast cancer take no chance on their life by having a treatment method which preserves the breast. In conjunction with the wedge excision, even if the axilla is clinically negative, a dissection of the low and central axilla brings enough information to decide on elective chemotherapy.