These factors can be used to provide a general clinical profile that estimates the risk of a future relapse, and thereby helps doctors and patients weigh the pros and cons of adjuvant ("helping") chemotherapy as an additional option. And, does that information affect how she is treated. The physician may also use the Adjuvant. Oncologists routinely use clinical risk-profiles, including tumor size, hormone receptor content, extent of involvement of the axillary nodes, and other factors discerned only when a pathologist examines the tumor cells under the microscope (sometimes referred to as the grade of the cancer cells).

However, some risk factors are open to subjective interpretation and may vary from one observer to another. Algorithm, available free of charge, on-line. Is a mathematical predictive model that estimates risk of breast cancer-related death at 10-years of follow-up based on the original tumor.

If an individual woman turns up with breast cancer, can doctors figure out what her own chances are. Such adjuvant therapy itself has recognized risks and quality-of-life issues, and the physician and patient must discuss these topics in order to personalize breast cancer management.

Arriving at Breast-Cancer Treatment So many women have had breast cancer and seem to be fine.