Intraoperative Electron Beam Radiotherapy Boost in Treating Patients With Stage I-II Breast Cancer Undergoing Surgery With Reconstruction

Inclusion Criteria: * Pathologically proven diagnosis of breast cancer * Clinical node negative stage I (T1N0) or stage II (T2N0) breast cancer * Preoperative ultrasound of the axilla with biopsy of suspicious nodes is recommended as clinically indicated per the discretion of the treating physician * Appropriate stage for protocol entry including no clinical evidence for distant metastases based upon the following minimum diagnostic workup * History/physical examination, documentation of weight and Zubrod performance status 0-2 within 28 days prior to study entry * Right and left mammography within 90 days of diagnostic biopsy establishing diagnosis * Absolute neutrophil count \> 1800 cells/cubic mm * Platelets \>= 75,000 cells/cubic mm * Hemoglobin \>= 8 g/dL * Women of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 14 days of study entry * Women of childbearing potential must be non-pregnant and non-lactating and willing to use medically acceptable form of contraception during radiation therapy * Patients must provide study specific informed consent prior to study entry Exclusion Criteria: * Clinical T4, N2 or N3, M1 pathologic stages III or IV breast cancer * Prior invasive non-breast malignancy (except non-melanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix) unless disease free for a minimum of 3 yrs prior to study entry * Prior invasive or in-situ carcinoma of the breast (prior lobular breast carcinoma in situ \[LCIS\] is eligible) * Two or more cancers not resectable through a single lumpectomy incision * Bilateral breast cancer * Ductal breast carcinoma in situ (DCIS) only * Non-epithelial breast malignancies such as sarcoma/lymphoma * Male breast cancer * Paget's disease of the nipple * Prior radiotherapy to the breast or prior radiation to the region of the ipsilateral breast that would result in overlap of radiation fields * Pregnancy or women of childbearing potential who are sexually active and not willing/able to use medically acceptable forms of contraception * Active systemic lupus, erythematosus, or any history of scleroderma, dermatomyositis with active rash * Medical, psychiatric or other condition that would prevent the patient from receiving the protocol therapy or providing informed consent