Early breast cancer is defined as tumours of not more than 5 cm diameter, with either impalpable or palpable but not fixed lymph nodes and no evidence of distant metastases.
Clinical practice guidelines for the management of early breast cancer, and associated topic-specific guideline updates, are designed to assist in decision making by women and their doctors.
Clinical practice guidelines
- Clinical practice guidelines for the management of early breast cancer (2nd edition)
Publication date: August 2001
The following topic-specific guideline updates either replace or supplement chapters in the 2001 Clinical practice guidelines for the management of early breast cancer. Please note: these topic-specific guidelines are now available as online guidelines. Printed versions are still available while stocks last. To ensure you have the latest version, please refer to the online version.
- Management of the axilla
- Sentinel node biopsy
- Bisphosphonates
- Chemotherapy
- Hormonal therapies
- Targeted therapies
- Follow-up
Management of the axilla (supplement to Chapter 4):
Sentinel node biopsy (supplement to Chapter 4):
- Recommendations for use of sentinel node biopsy in early (operable) breast cancer
Publication date: June 2008 - The use of sentinel node biopsy in early (operable) breast cancer: a guide for general practitioners
Publication date: February 2009
Other information on this topic
- Evidence review – Sentinel node biopsy for early breast cancer – a systematic review
Publication date: July 2007
- Recommendations for use of bisphosphonates in early (operable) breast cancer
Publication date: November 2011
Chemotherapy (supplement to Chapter 6):
- Recommendations for use of taxane-containing chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of early (operable) breast cancer
Publication date: June 2008
Other information on this topic
- Evidence review – Taxanes for neoadjuvant treatment of early breast cancer: a systematic review
Publication date: May 2007
Hormonal therapies (supplement to Chapter 6):
- Recommendations for aromatase inhibitors as adjuvant endocrine therapy for post-menopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer
Publication date: July 2006
Other information on this topic
- Evidence review – Aromatase inhibitors as adjuvant therapy for post-menopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer
Publication date: May 2005
Targeted therapies (supplement to Chapter 6):
- Recommendations for use of trastuzumab (Herceptin®) for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer
Publication date: March 2007 - Information for general practitioners about the breast cancer drug trastuzumab (Herceptin®)
Publication date: July 2007
Other information on this topic
- Evidence review – Trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer: a systematic review
Publication date: August 2006
Follow-up (supplement to Chapter 7):
- Recommendations for follow-up of women with early breast cancer
Publication date: March 2010
- Follow-up care for women with early breast cancer: a guide for general practitioners
Publication date: March 2010