The waiting is going to kill me and question.....

Anonymous

HI Everyone,

I joined this forum a few weeks back when I first learned of my diagnosis.. Everyone has been so welcoming and supportive and I want to say thanks.

I am moving full steam ahead and my surgery is scheduled for March 22.. I met with the plastic surgeon who will be performing a best reduction on the "healthy" breast for symmetry....

Two weeks my biopsy tissue was sent out for Oncotype DX test. I still have not heard any results yet? Is this a typical timeframe to wait? About 10 days ago I had a blood test taken to check for the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 test.... Still no results...

My breast surgeon seems to feel that both these tests will be in my favor.. I hope so since I have 3 daughters and don't want them to carry either one of those genes.. ( we are of Ashkenazi Jewish decent )

What exactly is the Oncotype DX test? Surgeon feels that will be in my favor as well.....

I cringe overtime my cellphone rings thinking that this is the call that will change everything,...

Any tips, advice, info that you can provide would be greatly appreciated...

PS.. How do you get your diagnosis and treatment to appear on the bottom of the post?

Thanks!

Kicks

Click on you Profile and you can enter your info.

I did not have/need an Oncotype to determine my Chemo TX plan - it was an absolute that I had to do neoadjuvant Chemo. Quite basically as far as I understand it (there will be others who can explain it better), it is sometimes used to determine if Chemo is advised. Your Chemo Dr (Medical Oncologist) should have discussed this with you. Also what your ER/PR and HER2 status are as all come into our overall TX plan as surgery is only a part of the TX plan that the Team has come up with. What is your Rads Dr (Radiological Oncologist) saying about possible need for rads and the effect on the recon?

Moderators

Hi Nachout!

Your diagnosis and treatments are private by default. You can update them to public under Settings (at the bottom of the left blue menu) so everyone is able to see this information in your signature.

Hope this helps!

The Mods

Sjacobs146

The Oncotype score can help decide whether chemo would be beneficial to you or not in combination with other factors (e.g. Positive nodes, age, grade, etc.)

SummerAngel

I'm a good example of why the Oncotype is helpful. Years ago I would have been given chemo simply because I was Stage II. Because my Oncotype was low it wasn't necessary.

SpecialK

Both the Oncotype Dx and BRCA testing typically take about three weeks, so it is not unusual that you have not heard back on either result yet. Oncotype DX is a genetic assay that looks at the makeup of the tumor and helps determine whether chemotherapy would be beneficial if given in addition to hormonal therapy. You receive a score that assumes you will be taking hormonal therapy and it can be low, which usually means chemotherapy will not be helpful, intermediate, which can mean it may be helpful and other aspects of your diagnosis and general healthshould be factored into the decision, or a high score, which would mean it is usually recommended