Am I crazy?

Kimmer33

Hi Ladies

Am I crazy to do chemotherapy with an onco score of 9? I had one node positive which makes me want to do chemo, but reading that some of you opted out of chemo, even with a positive node, makes me re-think my decision. I haven't started chemo yet. My cancer is also low grade which makes me lean toward no chemo, but that darned lymph node. I also see some women with no nodes positive do chemo - what am I missing?

momand2kids

Hi

I was a no node person who had chemo, but I had mid 20's on the oncotype score. Take a look at the results of the TailorX trials released last week... might help you think this through-I think there was some convincing evidence there for low oncotype scores. However, all that said, you have to do what you feel is best for you--- and there was indeed a time when having a positive node got you chemo. What does your onc say?

AmyA

I can tell you that I had no nodes and that chemo was put on the table at me. As I was pre-menopausal, they said they recommend one round as insurance. I very luckily got my biopsy results back shortly thereafter and my numbers were good and chemo was taken off the table.

So, perhaps your age is a factor?

All the best

Kimmer33

i meet with my onc tomorrow - and Amy, i am 46, but very premenopausal.

Kim

ksusan

I wasn't even oncotyped--my surgeon and MO said the positive node meant chemo (even though my tumor was "indolent" [low Ki67]). It was projected to decrease my risk more than 5%, which was the amount I'd decided on. I don't regret doing it.

Hopeful82014

I had one positive node, a very strong neoadjuvant response to letrozole and an Oncotype of 20. One MO said chemo for sure if Oncotype 18 or higher. The second MO said 25 or higher would be the cut off in my case. She also put many more facts on the table. I chose to follow the 2nd MO's advice; the projected benefit of 1-3% from chemo was not sufficient to outweigh the negatives for me.

Frankly, if I had an Oncotype of 9 I would not even consider chemo - but that's just me. You do, however, need to be very clear on what absolute benefit you are likely to see from chemo.

Good luck with your decision.

Meow13

Hormone therapy might work better than chemo for your cancer, being grade 1 and er and pr positive.