Oncotype DX test "failure"

Atw1218

Ok - second time may be a charm. I just got my Oncotype score back - 16. Its the high end of low but was still relieved to see less than 18. I am going to review with my Doctor and still head to MD Anderson for a second opinion but I have to admit I am leaning towards starting the Tamoxifen as soon as I can and starting to move on. Anyone have thoughts on that?

 Stats: 34 years old, 1.8 cm tumor, grade 2, no node involvement. ER/PR positve. I had a bilateral mastectomy with clean margins.

rtpana

I understand your need to move on but adding chemo to your Tamoxifen will give you a greater certainty especially given your very young age. Please check the Adjuvant! electronic tool (either on your own or  with your doctor) so you can determine the chemo benefit for your tumor - the decrease in relapse rate may be up to 50% if chemo is added. There is an ongoing clinical trial that will give more certainty to the meaning of borderline low Oncotype numbers so until that is know you should consider the chemo.

PatH

My Oncotype DX test after lumpectomy surgery failed because the tissue submitted was unusable. I underwent a clinical trial procedure called cryoblation before the lumpectomy which killed the cancer by freezing it to death. The lumpectomy merely removed the dead tissue. The MO was able to submit the original core biopsy tissue and my DX test just returned with a score of 18. The high end of low recurrance. The previous Mammoprint test also came back low risk for recurrance so at the recommendation of the RO I have chosen to forego Chemo and go with Rad only.

lalisa

Test "failure", so frustrating! I was dx in '07, but I do remember that just from looking at the original path report before we got the onco dx score, my onc was predicting a low score. So docs can def tell alot about what treatments will work best even without the onco score.

kira1234

lalisa, That was not my case. My BS and the RAD. both thought I would have a low score. I had a mid score of 24 which surprised them both, The Oncotype test has definitely changed things in my opinion.

kira1234

Path, how are you doing since your treatment? My BS wanted to use that procedure on me as well, but mine was ILC which was not included in the trial.

theresa45

My oncotype test also failed the first time.  We submitted a different section of my 6mm tumor and the score was thankfully 14.  I  was also told that 2mm or above should be good enough to produce a result. Best of luck to all in persuing a result!