nottingham prognostic indicator???

js37

 i've been doing some research on my treatment options & survival rates & stumbled across this.  i'm newly diagnosed so this is all new to me & i'm trying to gather as much info as i can so that i can make educated decisions based on all the data.  with this, i'd score either a 3.3 or a 3.48 - i say that because my tumor had a cystic component to it.  the mass itself they are estimating is actually 1.5cm, but they are counting the cyst when it's full as part of the size, so at the time they took it out, it was 2.4 (which i don't really understand why they count it in the size because it constantly changed in size. the cyst when it was first found was 2.6 then collapsed when we aspirated it, then refilled to about 2.8, then collapsed during the core biopsy, then refilled again to 2.6 at the time of my lump - confusing. when i ask why, i get the same answer, which really is no answer, that this is rare, and that they don't really understand why this happens, so they just count the fluid filled sack to be on the safe side.  if anyone has some insight on that i'd love to hear it!)

 anyway, if anyone has any info on this as a viable indicator of reoccurence, i'd love to hear your thoughts.  i found the info on:  www.cancerhelp.org.uk

Some doctors in the UK use a formula called The Nottingham Prognostic Indicator (NPI) to give them some idea of how well treatment may work for a person with breast cancer and how long the person may live. It is not possible to predict exactly what will happen to each individual person but the index can give a general idea. The NPI is a useful guide but not a guarantee of what will happen.

The Index looks at 3 factors

• The size of the cancer
• Whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes (lymph glands) under the arm (and if so, how many nodes are affected)
• The grade of the cancer

The formula is:

NPI = (0.2 x tumour diameter in cms) + lymph node stage + tumour grade, where

• The lymph node stage can be 1 (if there are no nodes affected), 2 (if up to 3 glands are affected) or 3 (if more than 3 glands are affected)
• The tumour grade is scored as either 1, 2, or 3

The formula gives scores which fall into three bands

• A score of less than 3.4 - this suggests a good outcome with a high chance of a cure
• A score of between 3.4 to 5.4 - this suggests an intermediate level with a moderate chance of cure
• A score of more than 5.4 - this suggests a lower chance of cure

The NPI is based on information from a group of patients treated some time ago. Treatment results have improved since then.

flash

the nottingham score is only part of the information needed to make decisions.  You really have to talk with your onc who has ALL the information to find out what it is for you.  Things have really changed and the survival percentages you read are way out of date.  They don't take into account changes and they're based on previous people in previous treatments.  And the biggest thing of all.  You are an individual NOT a statistic.  Statistics are based on entire groups.  You can't tell which part of the group you fall in.  I know this is not comforting information that gives you an answer but that's the problem, there are no definitive answers yet.  Do as much as you can to feel comfortable with any decisions you make and then don't look back.  Don't apologize to anyone for your decisions.  You are you, no one else can walk in your shoes.  Good luck to you.