Radiation Therapy in Treating Women With Locally Recurrent Breast Cancer Previously Treated With Repeat Breast-Preserving Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed locally recurrent breast carcinoma consistent with the following cell types:

  * Invasive ductal breast carcinoma
  * Medullary ductal breast carcinoma
  * Tubular ductal breast carcinoma
  * Mucinous ductal breast carcinoma
  * Lobular breast carcinoma
  * Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

    * No Paget disease of the nipple
  * Target lumpectomy cavity must be clearly defined and the target lumpectomy cavity/ whole-breast reference volume must be \< 30% based on a post-operative, pre-treatment CT scan
  * Tumor size ≤ 3 cm in greatest dimension on pathologic specimen
  * Negative histologic margins of resection and no tumor on ink following breast-preserving surgery of local recurrence (Re-excision is permitted to achieve negative margins)
  * Axilla negative or ≤ 3 positive lymph nodes without extracapsular extension
  * If the in-breast recurrence is DCIS and/or microinvasive disease, a sentinel lymph node (SLN) evaluation is not required, but if performed:
  * Patients with a negative sentinal lymph node (SLN) biopsy are eligible for enrollment
  * Patients with a positive SLN biopsy require an axillary lymph node (ALN) dissection (ALND is not required if the SLN is not identified)
  * Patient is eligible if 0-3 positive ALNs without extracapsular extension is documented
* If the in-breast recurrence is invasive disease and:

  * No prior ALN dissection or SLN dissection only:

    * Patient is required to undergo axillary evaluation with either a SLN or ALN dissection
    * If the SLN is not identified or if the SLN is positive for metastatic disease then an ALN dissection is required
    * Patient is eligible for enrollment if encounter 0-3 positive lymph nodes without extracapsular extension
  * • Prior ALN dissection: negative clinical exam: patient is eligible for enrollment

    * It is recommended, but not required, that the patient undergo ultrasound evaluation of the axilla and the lymph node draining regions of the breast; any suspicious areas are to be biopsied and if positive followed with an ALN dissection
    * Patient is eligible for enrollment if biopsies are negative or 0-3 axillary lymph nodes without extracapsular extension are encountered
  * Prior ALN dissection: positive clinical exam: biopsy required

    * If biopsy is negative, patient is eligible for enrollment
    * If biopsy is positive an ALN dissection is required
    * Patient is eligible for enrollment if biopsies are negative or 0-3 axillary lymph nodes without extracapsular extension encountered
* Ipsilateral breast mammogram and MRI within 120 days prior to study entry
* Contralateral breast mammogram within 12 months of study entry
* For invasive in-breast recurrence, no more than 120 days since whole-body (positron emission tomography) PET-CT scan OR CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, and bone scan
* No multicentric ipsilateral breast recurrence or regional recurrence (other than axilla)
* Patients must have a breast technically amenable to partial-breast irradiation
* No metastatic disease documented by physical exam or radiographic evaluation (for patients with invasive disease)
* No skin involvement
* No prior contralateral mastectomy
* Estrogen and progesterone status must be known

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Zubrod performance status 0-1
* Menopausal status not specified
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No other invasive malignancy within the past 3 years except ipsilateral breast cancer and/or nonmelanoma skin cancer
* No collagenous diseases, specifically systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, or dermatomyositis
* No psychiatric or addictive disorders that would preclude obtaining informed consent

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* More than 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
* No concurrent intensity-modulated radiotherapy
* No concurrent chemotherapeutic agents, including trastuzumab