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OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors for relapse and death in patients with T1 to T2 breast cancer with 0-3 positive axillary lymph nodes.METHODS The case files of 540 breast cancer patients with T1-T2 tumors with 0-3 positive nodes were reviewed retrospectively. Ten-year locoregional recurrence (LRR), distant recurrence (DR), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of the patients were analyzed. Univariate statistical analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were carried out with SPSS software v.16.0.RESULTS The median follow-up of all the patients was 7.2 years. On multivariate analysis, > 20% positive axillary nodes was the only variable that influenced LRR adversely (hazard ratio[HR], 12.816; 95% confidence interval, 4.657-35.266, P<0.001); > 20% positive axillary nodes and ductal carcinoma were variables that influenced DR adversely (HR, 11.088, 95% confidence interval, 3.807-32.297, P < 0.001; HR, 0.390, 95% confidence interval, 0.179-0.851, P = 0.018); 1-3 positive axillary nodes and > 20% positive axillary nodes were the only variables that had negative effect on 10-year OS (HR, 2.110, 95% confidence interval, 1.364-3.264, P = 0.001; HR, 10.244, 95% confidence interval, 3.497-30.011, P < 0.001) and they were also adverse prognostic variables on 10-year DFS (HR, 1.634, 95% confidence interval, 1.171-2.279, P = 0.004; HR, 7.339, 95% confidence interval, 2.906-18.530, P < 0.001).CONCLUSION Axillary lymph nodal status is the only risk factor with a significant impact on 10-year LRR, DR, OS and DFS. Patients with T1-T2 breast cancer with 0-3 positive lymph nodes have the LRR and DR of over 10 years, and the OS and DFS of less than 10 years, compared to patients with negative lymph nodes. Histology in primary tumors is a significant prognostic factor for the 10-year DR.