radiation to lymph node area

A family member was recently treated with surgery (mastectomy) and chemo for Stage III breast cancer.  The tumor was 6.5 cm.  Many lymph nodes were removed in the surgery, but only two lymph nodes were found to be cancerous.  

This family member consulted a radiologist recently and was told that radiotherapy for the chest wall was advisable, but it was not necessary to treat the area around the lymph nodes, since the nodes were removed, and it was unlikely that the cancer leaked out of the nodes into the surrounding area.

Does this make sense?  Should the area of the positive lymph nodes be irradiated even if the nodes were removed?

Thank you.

[lizziecee]

I had a lumpectomy and total lymph node removal: 4/18 nodes positive for cancer. I had FEC chemo, then 25 rads with 2 boosters. As far as I am aware, only my chest wall was radiated, and not the area around the lymph nodes. I am nearly 5 yrs from diagnosis and doing fine now. The chemo is supposed to mop up any stray cells that have gone beyond the lymph nodes - well, that was what I was told by my Oncologist.