Objective To investigate the principle and method of breast-concerving therapy of early-stage breast cancer.Methods The clinical data of 31 cases of early-stage breast cancer who were conserved breast were analysed retrospectively from January 1992 to April 2002. 14 cases performed wide lumpectomy plus axillary nodes dissection,5 cases performed wide lumpectomy, 11 cases performed lumpectomy and 1 case did not perform operation. After operation 17 cases received radiotherapy and chemotherapy,8 cases received only radiotherapy,3 cases received only chemotherapy and 3 cases did not receive radio-chemotherapy.Results Surviving time of all patients was 6 to 122 months.Mean surviving time was 32?5 months.Median of survival time was 22 months.Among 31 patients 1 case died of metastasis due to refusing chemotherapy,the other were alive now and 10 cases of all patients have survival over 3 years. Local recurrence was found in 1 case after 5 years,but he did not take chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Fairly good cosmetic outcome was obtained in 29 patients(93 5%).Conclusions It probably is ideal method that the wide lumpectomy plus axillary nodes dissection combines rationally with radiotherapy and chemotherapy in breast-conserving treatment of early- stage breast cancer.