Onco type score

hollygirl8900

I've gotten through mastectomy for invasive ductal carcinoma. This will be my third time in 14 years since last being treated for cancer. (was treated in 98 with Adrymycin and cytotoxin. Then when it came back in 2000 I received taxol).But since then the oncotype testing has been put to use. I too have just agreed to have that test. I will know in 3 weeks. I want to know if having repeat cancer, if my Onco type score is likely to be higher? I don't want to get my hopes up but would like to SAFELY do without chemo this time around.

cookiegal

that is really interesting question

edwards750

I hope not for your sake. It is a good question given you have had multiple recurrences. While a low score is no guarantee it certainly helped me dodge chemo. My score was 11. My ONC was ambivalent about treatment so she ordered the test. Good thing. I had IDC Stage 1b, Grade 1. I had 33 Rads treatments instead. Better than chemo. I did have a micromet in my SN which is why my BS said I would have to have chemo. Fortunately not his call.

The Oncotype test is a godsend and my ONC said women have been over treated for years so it is a great tool for them to determine whether chemo would be beneficial.

Good luck!

Diane

hollygirl8900

Thank you (and cookie) for your posts. I have to wait and see for several weeks. While waiting I want to get as much feedback as I can. My mastectomy did not include any node removal. Surgeon said that because my first surgery in 98 included 17 nodes being removed, he felt that I would have too many side effects due to having had nodes removed previously. But that leaves me not knowing if nodes were involved. Other than PET scans. And that found a possible subclavicular node, which could not be found on a follow up Sonogram. So I understand that Onco type testing should be offered. But the question remains "was there any nodes that were positive"? So I won't know. I will weigh the risk of chemo and my score when it comes available. Also, I am 64 now. I know it would be difficult to undergo chemo. I did so poorly on chemo previously. And I was 14 -15 , years younger than I am now. I had Low blood counts and several hospitalizations due to that and other problems .I am not so keen on going through that again.  So now I wait and see.  

cookiegal

Honestly the nodes are not that big a deal. (Lets assume you had three of them for arguments sake)

The prognoisis between oncotype for 1-3 pos nodes and negative is not that different.

I believe the bottom of the margin of error for positive was at the top for negative.

More and more biology trumps staging.