**Core Concept**
The management of breast cancer, particularly in the case of a palpable axillary metastasis, involves a multidisciplinary approach, considering the stage of the disease, patient's overall health, and potential treatment options.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The presence of a 2 cm nodule in the breast and a proven metastatic node in the axilla indicates stage III breast cancer. In such cases, the standard treatment is neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery (mastectomy or lumpectomy) and then radiation therapy. This approach aims to shrink the tumor, making it more manageable for surgical removal and reducing the risk of recurrence. Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is also typically performed to remove the metastatic node and assess for further lymph node involvement.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because it does not address the presence of metastatic disease in the axilla, which requires a more aggressive treatment approach than would be indicated for a solitary 2 cm nodule in the breast without lymph node involvement.

**Option B:** This option is incorrect because it does not consider the potential benefits of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in reducing tumor size and improving surgical outcomes.

**Option C:** This option is incorrect because it overlooks the importance of axillary lymph node dissection in the management of breast cancer with metastatic disease in the axilla.

**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
In cases of breast cancer with axillary metastasis, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is typically administered to shrink the tumor and improve surgical outcomes, followed by surgery (mastectomy or lumpectomy) and radiation therapy.

**Correct Answer:** C.