Patients are in different stages of breast cancer when they are diagnosed. How can patients with different stages of breast cancer benefit most from treatment? How should patients grasp the situation? According to the recent guidelines for breast cancer treatment at home and abroad, the following principles can be used for patients’ reference. Early stage breast cancer Early stage breast cancer refers to patients with primary tumor less than 2cm at the time of diagnosis and no lymph node metastasis. There are various surgical options available at this stage, including lesion excision, partial mastectomy including the lesion, and total mastectomy, as well as biopsy of the anterior lymph nodes. After surgery, the need for radiotherapy, chemotherapy, endocrine therapy and targeted drug therapy will be determined based on the pathological examination results. Early-stage breast cancer treatment requires three points of benefit: one is to obtain radical treatment, the other is to preserve the breast, and the third is to avoid non-essential treatment, and the best treatment plan is the one that can satisfy these three points at the same time. Early to mid-stage breast cancer Early to mid-stage breast cancer generally refers to patients with primary tumor less than 5cm at the time of diagnosis, no lymph node metastasis or only 3 or less lymph node metastasis in the ipsilateral axilla. The surgical options include partial mastectomy, total mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy, and ipsilateral axillary dissection depending on the biopsy results of the anterior lymph nodes. After surgery, the need for radiotherapy, chemotherapy, endocrine therapy and targeted drug therapy is determined based on the surgical approach and pathological findings. The benefit points to be grasped at this stage are firstly, to obtain a radical cure, secondly, to preserve the breast as much as possible, or to leave the foundation for future breast reconstruction through plastic oncology surgery (preserving the nipple-areola complex, leaving a thick enough skin flap, minimizing axillary interference, etc.) for future second-stage repair and reconstruction to restore the natural breast, and thirdly, to complete other necessary treatment programs as much as possible to reduce the probability of postoperative recurrence and metastasis and to obtain good long-term survival. These three benefits should be balanced, coordinated and preferred in a comprehensive treatment plan according to the patient’s condition. Intermediate-stage breast cancer There are two types of intermediate-stage breast cancer: patients with primary tumor less than 5 cm and more than 4 lymph nodes metastasis in the ipsilateral axilla or internal breast lymph node metastasis; patients with primary tumor of any size but invading the skin or chest wall, or patients with primary tumor larger than 5 cm and lymph node metastasis in the ipsilateral axilla. At this stage, neoadjuvant treatment before surgery can be chosen. The main surgical options are modified radical treatment, extended radical surgery, and axillary dissection. Postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy are generally required, and the decision to do endocrine therapy and targeted drug therapy is based on the results of postoperative pathological examination. The main benefit point to be grasped at this stage is to make every effort to obtain radical treatment, and secondly, to complete other necessary treatment programs as much as possible to reduce the probability of postoperative recurrence and metastasis, and to obtain long-term good survival.