I'm not sure how they calculate it @RR. I suspect it's known size, advancement, type, aggressiveness and whatever else is in the mix. I had surgery first - mine was ILC - first thought to be Stage 2 and about 2.5mm, then found to be in the nodes, so Stage 3, Grade 2 and 4.5mm but not aggressive. So back into surgery for mastectomy and clearance. Just long enough for surgery to heal and I started chemo - 4 x 3 weekly doses of AC and then on to 12 x weekly doses of Placlitaxel, which I started on Thursday. Then it'll be rads, then hormones. While the surgeon is convinced he got all of the cancer, he said there's no point taking chances that anything has escaped and is floating around. I am 54 and have 3 kids, the youngest of whom is 12. I'm different from @kmakm - I found the surgery, while confronting, easy to get over. Chemo takes a special type of fortitude!
Anyway, ask your medical team exactly what is being suggested and why.
