Oncotype DX score of 20 received today

cmz

I'm ER+ >90%, PR-0% HER2 negative. Told by my Onc that PR- indicates a more aggessive phenotype.  Any other PR negatives out there?  Can you tell me your Oncotype dx scores?  Would appreciate the info.  Thanks so much!

ansar

One bright and shiny possibility:  my surgeon mentioned that since the Oncotype DX scores are based on data of a few years ago, our change of recurrence scores might even be a bit higher on paper than they are in Current Treatment Reality.  That's a nice thought, isn't it?   My score? 19.  Not doing chemo. No belief that with my particular profile, it will help at all. Sleeping beautifully!  Good luck to all tackling this tough moment.

sandilee

cmz, I had a pr- tumor.  It also was a grade 3.  My Oncotype score is 18.  My onc recommended taking an AI, and not doing chemo. He didn't think the benefit outweighed the risk in my case.  I'm happy with that decision.  

 There are no guarantees, of course. 

   

cmz

Hi Sandilee,

Good for you!  What a great score.  I'm 45 and premenopausal, but hoping to fare well on the test all the same.  Thanks for replying to my post.

MinnesotaBarb

I received Oncotype DX score of 28 yesterday. I thought I might be looking at radiation only. Now I don't know. I'm 46, <1 cm, Stage 1, no nodes, grade 2, ER+, PR+, HER2-.</p>

Anyone similar and your thoughts, please?

I spent a good part of the night crying. It felt like being diagnosed all over again. I am waiting for a call from the oncologist to help explain all this. I am scared of chemo and I want to make the right choice.

momand2kids

Hi Barb

I had an oncotype of 27--- I had had a lumpectomy and we thought we would go straight to radiation-- 27 (and 28) are at the high end of the intermediate range.  I ended up choosing 4 rounds of A/C after my onc and a second opinion both agreed---- I was 48-- and in general good health.

I tolerated it pretty well-- took 8 weeks- worked full time through most of it and I have young kids--- so you can do it if you decide to take that route--- I really wanted to make sure that I had done everything.... but talk to your onc-- there is also the idea that our er/pr status as positive makes the hormonal therapy the strongest therapy.  My onc, who is a researcher as well, believes firmly in the power of the hormonal therapies and always said that would be the most powerful part of the treatment.

 It is a hard decision, but once you make it, you will feel better, either way.  For what it is worth, on the day I decided to have chemo, I asked to start it right away, just to get it over with.  Truth is, I can barely remember it now!

good luck

MinnesotaBarb

Thank you! My oncologist called and wants me to do four cycles of chemo starting next week. My ER score was high but my PR score was marginal and she thought that's when oncotype scores can sometimes come back intermediate high given younger age and borderline PR score, I think. More aggressive cancer with earlier onset for my age. She said recurrence percentage was 18 percent with hormone therapy alone and chemo could bring that to 10-11 percent. Better odds over time for a "younger" person (I don't feel so young right now at 46. My children are teenagers.)

I have so many questions right now. How soon did hair loss start? How long did oncologist wait after chemo to start radiation? How much did the anti-nausea meds help?

 How are you feeling now? Any long term effects from the chemo?

 I'm glad it feels like a distant memory now. I look forward to that.

IllinoisNancy

cmz,

I was ER+++, PR- along with Pleomorphic and my OncotypeDX was only a 9.  I had a lumpectomy followed by rads and now Tamoxifen.

thegoodfight

MinnesotaBarb,

I am so glad you are going to do chemo.  My Onco score was 17 and a retest brought it to 18 and even though that was pretty good I decided on chemo since my grade was 3.  Once I made the decision there was relief, and I have never had to look back and wonder if I "should" have.   I  finished in January of '09 so I still don't know if there are any long term effects.  I was fairly lucky with the se's.  I had my share, but I was never sick or in bed.  I never lost my taste buds so food was not a problem.  I was able to continue my regular routine and stayed very active.  

I will try to answer a few of your questions but if you go to the chemo thread you will get tons of info.  If you are having a chemo that hair loss is a side effect, you can count on day 14 being the magic number.  I would say almost everyone starts the hairloss 14 days after first treatment.  After two days of filling the shower drain I went and got it buzzed...............very freeing, I was in control.  I am not going to say that hair loss is not a big deal, of course it is.  But, that being said, it was not nearly as bad as I feared and I really did not look bad.  (good shaped head, lots of eye makeup and big earrings...........lol )   Being on the other side I can say that 5 months after ending chemo I had enough hair to go "topless" sporting a very shiek high fashion short "do"

the anti nausea meds are great.  I never, ever had even a queasy moment.  Infact all the meds that are available make chemo and its se's very doable in most cases, so don't over worry.  You will find lots of answers here on bc.org.

I started my rads about 3 weeks after I finished chemo (35 sessions) and started my arimidex when I finished rads.

Once you step on the treatment treadmill you will be on your way to getting to the other side.  I started chemo on Oct. 13th, '08 and finished rads on March 16th '09.  You will get there.  Just put one foot in front of the other and keep moving.

Hope all goes well..................................Caren

momand2kids

Barb

I was much the same as Caren

 I had my head shaved at about a week after I started chemo--I figured it would be better for me since I had such long and thick hair--- and I got the wigs and just kept living my life.... it was hard and I took the hair thing very hard, but I did it and you will too.

I started chemo on Jan 16 and finished radiation on may 6 (about 3 weeks in between).... I was able to go wigless around the end of June-and now I have a full mop of curly hair-- it looks great.

 I don't have any long term side effects that I know about-- but one never knows--but the risk, to me, was worth it.... I feel beyond great---- and am living my life as I did before---- but I know I am healthy... There are clearly no guarantees, but I didn't have any gurarantees before this..... 

I am on the hormonal drugs now-have been for a year--I have adjusted to mild side effects--but really, overall I feel great and I am at peace with my treatment decisions.  

 
sounds like you are on your way--I promise you it will fly by!!!

keep us posted.

giovannalouise

I'm new here and I'll just add in my score.  I scored 18 and at first was very comfortable about doing the chemo, four treatments.  I was stage 1, clear nodes/margins.  I had a bilateral mastectomy and figured, lets do all we can.  then I started to get anxious about it.  I felt so good, and now I was going to take in poison that I felt wasn't necessary.  There's no guaranties, but something wasn't sitting right with me.  I went ahead with one treatment, felt like I couldn't breathe.  Everything was stopped and restarted again and I got through the treatment.  Hair started coming out 2 to 3 weeks later, so I shaved it.  I went back for treatment number two, didn't feel right from the start.  20 minutes into my taxotere, I stood up to go to the bathroom.  I felt dizzy, lightheaded, and very short of breath.  I sat down.  the next thing I know, there's a swarmof people around me, my oncologist, nurses.  I had blacked out and had a slight seizure.  He immediately stopped the chemo and I was extrememly happy about that decision.  I'm on tamoxafin but am uneasy about it.

I handled the whole cancer thing quite well, and honestly, a year later emotionally am not handling it so well.  I will continue to live my life and move forward and not slow down until God decides.  I'm just having a tough time now, I guess.

I look forward to meeting you all.