Oncotype Score 18

voraciousreader

Mini... That score of 18 with a recurrence score of 12 % assumes you are doing Tamoxifen or an AI. If you choose not to do endocrine therapy, then your chance of a recurrence might be as high as double. Furthermore, when they refer to recurrence, they mean DISTANT recurrence, outside of the breast. Metastisis.



Perhaps you should get several opinions. Good luck with your decision.

Aruba

Mini. I am going the other way. My score is 26 and tomorrow will be calling to decline chemo. After discussions with MO (who said there was some benefit but reduced risk only 4%. I also spoke with her nurse, the onco company to make sure i fully understood the charts and each of my immediate family members and doing hours and hours and hours of research. The long term possibility os se dont warrant the 4% risk reduction. I am sure i will be the minority here but if this comes back ( which it could have by 4% more i'll have to fight again. For me the rads and hormone treatment reduce the odds hugely compared to chemo. Still have a day to think but am sure that is where Ill end up.

riverhorse

Hi Aruba

I would just like to say I had an Oconotype score of 25, no nodes no LVI. I had a double mastectomy and rads.  I got as far as the chemo class and when I realized that the chemo would be directed at rapidly dividing cells and my particular cancer had a mitotic rate of 1.  I decided against it as I felt compromising my immune system for what would seem a small reduction in risk was not worth it.  My thought was that a slow dividing cancer, if present, was not as likely to be eradicated by chemo as a more agressive one.  The immune system does play a role in destroying errant cancer cells in healthy people so my thinking was that I wanted it to remain in good shape.   I got a second opinion etc. but in the end the decision was left to me -- how we all long for someone to tell us what is the "best" course of action, and no one will.  I am as comfortable as anyone ever is making these potentially life altering decisions. 

Best

Sue 

detroit65

My Oncotype Score was 16, and the 1st MO I went to was going to have me do chemo without even ordering the onco test.  My BS had me do the Oncotype DX test, and with the score of 16, she felt I did not need chemo, but rads and tamoxifen.  Since then, I have changed to a new MO, and she agreed totaly with the BS.  I have 1 more week of rads to go, and then tamoxifen.   

Hollycat

My onco was 19. my tumor small. I did a BMX and will decline the chemo and just take tamoxifen for 5 - 10 years.

jsolie

I had similar numbers with an score of 18.  lumpectomy with clear margrins,  estrogren receptor positive with aromasin treatment as well as many other supplements plus radiation.  My oncologist could not give a number that would move increase my chances above 87%.  I did have a total hysterectomy to help by removing ovaries ( source of estrogen)   I have been on aromasin 4 months which is kind of tough.  I have a quirky immune system and did want more issues with chemo now or later due to immune system.  Now looking at adding fosamax or prolia- both scare me.  Anybody else out there with similar situation?

jandog

I had a lumpectomy followed by two reincisions, but never had clear margins, so had a mastectomy on 11-1-12. I had IDC grade 2 - three different sites, and DCIS grade 3. There was also evidence of lymphovascular invasion, although my lymph nodes were negative. My Oncotype was 17, which is somewhat in the gray area. I am now trying to determine if I should have chemo before starting hormone blocker therapy. A tumor board recommended it, although a couple of the oncologists on the team felt hormone blocker was enough. I am getting a second opinion tomorrow from a different health care system. Any thoughts? Would having LVI make a difference in determining whether or not to have chemo? Because otherwise, I don't see how chemo would be beneficial given the risks.

Hollycat

jandog,

My situation is similar to yours. It is my decision to have chemo or not. My cancer (IDC) was small (9mm) and removed in a lumpectomy. I had a prophylactic MX on Oct. 31st. I am an ATM gene carrier and can not have radiation. My oncotype is 19. I am not going to do chemo. The % that chemo will help is low. I am going to risk it......

Vicks1960

Jandog

Welcome to the best support site you could find....Sorry you have the 'condition' that needs it...

From what I understand, some of what is considered for the necessity of Chemo with the Oncotype score you have is your age.  

I too had a score similar to your's and my Medical Oncologist said at my age (69) the chemo probably would not do a lot.  I did have Contura Balloon Bracytherapy then have been on an AL (Letrozole) for a year now.  a few side effects but if it keeps the monster away worth it.  Other than having to have a seroma aspirated 2 different times, have had little trouble with the breast itself. 

Best of luck to you in making your decision!!!.  

Vickie

jandog

Thanks for all the information. I had a second opinion today, and this doctor did not recommend chemo, said the estrogen blocker is important, which I knew, but that chemo wouldn't increase the odds much at all, and with the long term side effects, would be worse. So I am not going to do chemo either. He did recommend that I take Zometa; every 6 months for 3 years, for a total of 6 times. He said it is bone building medication, which is a benefit to the SE's of the estrogen blocker, and some studies have shown that it lowers the chance for reoccurance even more. Any of you heard of or are taking this? What do you think? 

BilateralBeauties

There was an study released in 2012 on the power of Zometa. It had a 30% reduction in reoccurance compared to women who didn't take it. These women were also often on Tamoxifen and Zometa showed great promise not only in bone density, but in keeping reoccurance away. Further enhanced the Tamoxifen effect. I've been asking about it for me, but my Oncologist hasn't recommended. I will have a bone density study yet this year, then more discussion. I am 44.

Good luck, Jandog.

Vicks1960

BUMP PLEASE

LB44

Hi dcoffey,

So sorry you are having to go thru this. I am 44 and was diagnosed with a 1.5 cm IDC Grade 3 with no positive sentinel lymph nodes in August 2012. My Oncotype DX score was 19. It was ER+/ PR + and HER 2 -. My oncologist strongly recommended chemo because of my age and the fact that on pathology, it was poorly differentiated. I have my last, of 4 rounds of Cytoxan and Taxotere, on 12/28. While chemo is not especially fun, it has not been nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I had read other peoples reactions and almost didn't go for it. Except for losing most of my hair the other side effects have been minimal. I have worked almost full time, only taking time off for the day of chemo (Friday) and going back on the Wednesday after. I have been going to a Healing Touch practitioner and I do think that helped me in managing the side effects and making them a lot less. I will also have radiation and then probably Tamoxifen. I wanted to feel like I had done the best I could to increase my survival rate. Good luck!

duckyb1

Onc score was 8

Vicks1960

duckyb1

From what I have been told and read, that is a very good score.  What did your MO indicate to you?  Chemo or no?

Vickie