Predictive factors

Receive our quarterly lifestyle research updates Email:

Although nobody can predict what is going to happen to a patient after a diagnosis of breast cancer, there are features which place patients into a high , intermediate or low risk of relapse (cancer returning in another part of the body). These factors help to decide which patients require extra treatment such as hormone therapy and chemotherapy.

 The most commonly measured factors include:-

1. Age of patient.

2. Lymph node involvement in the armpit (axilla).

3. Tumour grade (how aggressive it looks).

4. Pathological tumour size.

5. Lymphatic or vascular invasion.

6. Lack of oestrogen receptor status.

6. HER-2 status. 

Some organisations have developed formulas which actual give the statistical risk of relapse. They are based on the results of treatment in the last ten years not the next ten years - so hopefully the results would be much better. 

THE NOTTINGHAM PROGNOSTIC INDEX

0.2 x path tumour size (in cm) + stage + grade

where stage is defined by triple node biopsy:

1. Tumour absent in all 3 nodes.

2. Tumour present in low axillary.

3. Tumour present in apical or internal mammary node and

Grade I=1, II=2, III = 3.

The index defines 3 groups but does not take into account age: