The changing role of axillary treatment in breast cancer: Who will remain at risk for developing arm morbidity in the future?

Axillary staging and treatment in breast cancer patients with a clinically node negative status will become less invasive, thereby reducing the incidence of morbidity. Nevertheless, in patients with a clinically node positive status, aggressive treatment will still be required for oncologic control. For these patients, a surveillance program should be implemented in order to apply (curative) surgical treatment for lymphedema.