Stage 1-recurrance percentage % risk?

I am always troubled by recurrence statistics; those "calculators" don't work for me. On the surface I look really good - Stage 1 node-negative, ER+. But my four nodes had just enough cancer cells to fall under the micromet stage; my Onco score and Ki-67 are high; I'm barely ER+ (and PR-). According to my Oncotype I have a 28% chance of recurrence (I did not take Tamoxifen for longer than 5 months total). My doctors poo-poo my concerns about all the "other" stuff and focus solely on the Stage and node status..so sometimes i feel at a loss. Most days I'm okay without certainties; some days are just more frustrating than others

I thought this was interesting information about reoccurrence rate. It's from a recent People Magazine interview with Dr. Funk from the Pink Lotus Breast Center: She was discussing Rita Wilson's stage one cancer. Dr. Funk said:

"Once you have breast cancer, if you do a mastectomy the recurrence rate in the skin or muscle or armpit lymph nodes is about 4 to 6 percent. That number can be cut in half by taking an anti-estrogen pill, but it requires some monitoring. If you think about it, every woman walking has a 12.5 percent chance of breast cancer. And so the recurrence after mastectomy is less than a third of everyone else of getting their first cancer."

Im new here and a little overwhelmed by all the information.  I had a mammoprint done which came back low risk (doesnt give an actual score) so my mo did not recommend chemo.  I feel very lucky but always that nagging worry and i have barely started treatment.  start radiation today and have recieved 1 lupron shot so far ( i am not menopausal) and will then start aromasin after radiation.  That is the plan anyway.  I really dont know why my MO did the mammoprint as opposed to the oncotype but i know the mammoprint does not give an intermediate score just low or high risk for distant recurrance

Angiem45. Ask your MO why they chose Mammoprint. That is a fair question! To be honest, I would have preferred to have the Mammoprint since there isn't an intermediate score. For the large number of us who have Intermediate Oncotype DX scores, making treatment decisions is very difficult and often the Mammoprint is ordered to help make the final decision. In my case, chemo was recommended and I was not ambivalent about that decision, so I did not have the Mammoprint test done. The decisions we have to make are difficult and it is normal to struggle with this when things are so fresh/raw. Based on your diagnosis and test results, it seems to me that your MO has established a proper treatment plan for you. If you have any doubts, make sure that you get more information from your MO. And hop up on that radiation table and kill some cancer!!!!

Hugs, MsP

Thank you Jessica for posting such an important and interesting article. I have often wondered about recurrence, long before I was diagnosed. I am new to this and find that reading and hearing about other's diagnosis/treatments and experiences is such a great support as well as helpful for information, even if everyone's experience is unique. I just had my surgery, post op tomorrow then wait to hear from Oncology for next course of treatment.

Thank you all for sharing your stories, I wish everyone a wonderful day!!!