onco score

dragonfrog1951

My tumor was ER Pr postive Her2 negative stage 3, grade 3 IDC with no mets.  I received an onco score of 23. The medical oncologist agreed that since it was low intermediate chemo would not be recommended but said tthat I would definitely have to take the hormone blocking med and stick with it no matter what side effects I get. I am starting radiation on February 9 and after talking with other women I find some women with similar onco scores did receive chemo. Interesting how different doctors prescribe different treatments. Has anyone else with a similar score received chemo?

BelaT

why stage 2 ? i have same score ((( i took chemo one round and 2nd round is thursday.. but wonder why yours is stage advanced..

judyfams

Mt onco score was 19 and my MO said the choice as to whethe or not to have chemo was mine.  My BS said no and my primary care physician said yes. My dx was stage 1 - so my tumor was smaller in size than yours.  I was also estrogren + and Her-

I decided to have the chemo - 6 rounds of cytoxan/taxotere 3 weeks apart, because if I do have a recurrence - I would always play the "what if" game.  This way I feel I did everything I possible could and if I do have a recurrence - I have no regrets about the decisions I made for my treatment.

For me the chemo was not a problem - maybe because I did not think of it in terms of how awful it could be - just how it would kill the remaining cancer cells. 

That was 2 years ago and I was 67 at the time and am now taking Fareston - an antiestrogen drug like Tamoxifen for post menopausal women.

I did what wa right for me.  There are no right or wrong answers here - just the answers that will give you peace of mind.  This is an insidious disease and there are no guarantees about when or if it will ever recur.  So for me the only consideration was what would allow me not to have regrets or second guess muself years later.  So I chose to do the chemo.

Good luck to you. 

Judy

doubleAA

I had an onco score of 22 - 2.0 cm I think grade 2, 0/6 nodes er+/pr+, her2-    I have learned from this board that no two breast cancers are the same so even though ours is close, different things about your overall health and your cancer could be influening your oncologist.   I will be starting chemo next Wednesday. 3 different oncologists recommended - one for act/two for tc (I will be doing tc).  I will be on tamoxifen after.  Supposedly the onco test, also retests the er/pr status and while mine showed that I was still positive for both, the %'s were lower than with the pathology from my surgergy which means tamoxifen alone may not be enough for me.  Maybe yours are super high which is why yours is not recommending chemo.  I am also 47 and all the oncologists I went to see recommended that be more aggressive in my treatment.

The best advice I can give you is if you don't understand something, ask your oncologist why you don't need chemo and don't leave until you get an answer you understand.  Knowledge is power!!

And, if something one doctor says just doesn't make sense then get another opinion.

As you can see I went to three doctors because first said ACT and second said TC.    

MiniMacsMom

Dragon, did you get an MX or a lumpectomy.  Did you have clear margins, are you going to have rads... Sorry for all the questions, but I think it makes a difference.  If you just had a lumpectomy I would definately do chemo.  If you had a MX with significantly clear margins and all scans, not just the two nodes said no cancer then I would say it would be maybe ok to do a reduced or no chemo.  I didn't have an oncotype since I had lymph involvement.  I had the first 4 lymphs and then a subclavicular lymph... the lymph involvement can skip around and doesn't have to be sequential in terms of sequence. 

Anonymous

Don't understand why in you signature line you've written Stage IIIb -  did you mean Stage 11

 If for some reason it IS Stage IIIb - then I can't imagine not having chemotherapy with a Grade 3 bc. The "gray" area , which you're in, for the Oncotype test scores, is stil under study.  Think it's the Tailor X Study - not sure.

bevin

Hi , I'm stasge 2 as well, T2nomo, my score was 11 even with grade 3. My doctor offered chemo as I am young 45. However, I had 3 consults. 1 wanted me to have it, one said not necessary due to low onco score. The onco I stayed with said he offered it because prior to Onco score my tumor status would require chemo and I am young. he also said most in the study were post menopausal.  Anyway, since he said he'd feel comfy if I didnt have it, I skipped.  I had 38 rounds radiation, 8 of those 38 were boosts. Plus on antihormonal.  I do need to share, I think my mind would be more at ease if I had elected chemo. 

If I can offer, go get a few consults. Most insurance will pay for the additional opines.  It will ensure your comfort with the recommendations. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

AgentMo

I can't really help with your problem - but why did you post it in the stage III forum when you are obviously stage IIa? I would also think that more people can answer your question there because for us Stage IIIers the question of chemo or not has never really mattered. Chemo was a given.

dragonfrog1951

I was diagnosed with stage three. thank you all for your replies.