1. What is the Breast Cancer Recurrence Calculator?

The Breast Cancer Recurrence Calculator estimates the probability of cancer recurrence based on cancer stage and treatment effectiveness factor. It helps clinicians assess risk and plan follow-up care.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the recurrence formula:

Where:

• \( Stage \) — Cancer stage (typically 1-4)
• \( Treatment Factor \) — Effectiveness of treatment (0-1 scale)

Explanation: The equation multiplies the cancer stage by a treatment effectiveness factor to estimate recurrence probability.

3. Importance of Recurrence Calculation

Details: Accurate recurrence estimation is crucial for determining follow-up frequency, adjuvant therapy needs, and patient counseling.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter cancer stage (1-4) and treatment factor (0-1). All values must be valid (stage > 0, treatment factor between 0-1).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What do the stage numbers mean?
A: Stage 1 is early localized cancer, while stage 4 indicates metastatic disease. Higher stages have greater recurrence risk.

Q2: How is the treatment factor determined?
A: Treatment factor is based on clinical studies of specific treatment protocols' effectiveness at reducing recurrence.

Q3: What are typical recurrence rates?
A: Varies by subtype, but stage 1 might have 5-10% 5-year risk, while stage 4 often has >50% recurrence risk.

Q4: Are there limitations to this calculation?
A: This is a simplified model. Actual risk depends on tumor biology, biomarkers, and individual patient factors.

Q5: Should this replace clinical judgment?
A: No, this is a screening tool. Clinical decisions should consider full patient history and multidisciplinary input.