Tamox, CMF or Ovary sup/removal?

Luna1

I'm 38 years old and am weighing my out options for treatment.  I had bi-lat mast 6 weeks ago with tissue expanders.  My oncologist did a oncotype test and I scored 9.  She told me I could walk away and not do any other treatments (chance of reoccurance 12-14%) or I could do either/any of the following: Tamox (6% reoccurance), CMF chemo or ovary suppresion or removal (all lowering reoccurance but not sure at what %).  Because I'm a mother of 2 and I'd like to be as healthy as can be I want to do the best thing of course.  My grandma had tamox and after 1 year her cancer spread, light chemo and it spread again.  My mother also had breast cancer so I'm third in line.  Any info from anyone out there would be so helpful.  Thanks ladies and take care!

samiam40

Holly,

An oncotype score of 9 is wonderful.  My situation was similar, in that my oncotype was relatively low at 14 (though I would have preferred a 9!).   One thing I am curious about is that while chemo (CMF) and ovarian supression were presented as options for me, tamoxifen was always considered mandatory since my tumor is also ER+/PR+.

I am 40 with 4 young kids and my primary concern is being around for them for a long, long time.   So I chose to do the CMF and now am taking tamoxifen.  I am meeting with a gyno oncologist next week to talk about ovarian suppression also.  My personal risk tolerance is very low.  However, we each have to do what we feel in our gut is the right decision for us.  If my oncotype had come back at 9, I might well have chosen to skip the chemo.

I'm sure others will weigh in soon.  Also, if you want to talk more about this, feel free to pm me. 

Annabella58

Wow, a 9!! That's a really good score, and with ovarian suppression, even better!

I had lupron for 7 months...are you aware that lupron should only be taken for 6 months, tops?  They don't always offer this info.  After that, apparently it can have adverse effects.

I was worried about the 6 month things, and since I had oncotype of 16, and was unable to get rads, I had the new girl popped in and took the stuffing out. 

You are young, not sure if you are near menopause, but since I was nowhere near it at 52, I opted to pull everything out.  I don't regret it for one minute, since I never met my ovaries, and I am done with having more children, and uh, they were trying to kill me, I chose to let them go bye bye.  It was a very easy surgery, kind of long recovery, but I'd do it again.  I figured with no rads I have to do everything in my power to keep the beast at bay. (or eradicate it)

In the end, it is YOUR body, what you choose to do is your choice alone. It sure sounds like you are safe with that oncotype score, was it in the nodes?  Did you get the BRAC?  If not, I'd get one, as that is more info for you with your family history.  It may not be genetic at all .

Good luck, hon.

Annabella58

Holly, sorry, just reread your diag., you are young to get it, so tamoxifen is a great option for you.

I had 5 years of it, a new cancer one year later, no issues with it at all.  But again no nodes, ER+, all good things for you!  Your diagnosis is almost the same as mine the first time around.  They think they may have missed a teeny piece of it, which is why mine came back.  My first time was back in 2001 and we were going from a mammo film, not an MRI.  MRI found it the next time.  If I'd had chemo back then and an MRI, I doubt I'd ever have seen it again. 

This is a very favorable scenario, and if you got a BRAC, then you'd know more.  But it looks very good so far.

AL1841

Was just diagnosed with an Oncotype of 13.  had a double Mast. on 11/24/09, no nodes involved.  2 tumors (larges .7mm). Some slight evidence of Lymphatic invasion (whatever that means).  100% ER/PR+; Her2-. My oncologist is recommending CMF chemo (8 cycles over 6 mos) followed by Tamox.  A 2nd opinion suggests ovarian suppression injections into abdomen (1x/month for 2 yrs.) coupled with the Tamoxifen.

I also have a mild form of Multiple Sclerosis, which adds a slight wrinkle.  With chemo, I get to go off weekly MS injection for the 6 months---that's a plus. Witth the hormonal treatments, I will need to continue with MS injections.

 Can't decide on which approach? Any advice?