Waiting for oncotype results

Nicobico

Hello! I am new to this community but happy to have found it. I am 38 and I was diagnosed in April 2017 with IDC, stage 2, grade 2, 1.3 cm tumor, 1/1 node involvement. Even though there was an infected node my MO suggested I have the oncotype test done. I was under the impression if infection has gone to the nodes it's wise to do chemo. I'm on the fence about what I will do if the score comes back as low risk. Has anyone else not done chemo when a node was involved

edwards750

Chemo used to be the automatic treatment prescribed when nodes were involved. In my case I had a micromet in the SN. My Oncologist ordered the Oncotype test because she was ambivalent about treatment. It was after all only a micromet. She did not check any other nodes. She said no reason to.

My score came back@11 so I dodged chemo and had 33 Rads treatments instead. So the old theory of instant chemo if nodes are involved is no longer the case. Plus my tumor was small and my BC was IDC, Stage 1b, Grade 1. I took Tamoxifen for 5 years. I am 6 years out next month.

Wait until you get your score to decide and whatever you elect to do remember it's your call not your doctor's. They advise you of course but it's your life after all.

Good luck!

Diane

gb2115

Yes, it's now common to have genomic testing done prior to making a chemo decision, even with a positive node. I had one positive node but my test (a mammaprint) showed low risk for distant spread and little extra benefit from adding chemo, so we skipped it. They did radiate all of the lymph nodes though, which has allowed me to worry less about not having chemo.

Nicobico

Thank you gb2115 and edwards750 for your responses and sharing your experiences!

HaileysHooters

Hi Nicobico,

My oncologist placed an oncotype test which came back intermediate (score of 20), and we're now waiting on a mammaprint to determine next steps. I didn't have any nodes involved but I did have traces of LVI. So we're trying to determine what the best process is. I'm learning there's a very fine line between finding the best course of treatments and possible over-treatment!

Do you know your receptor status? ER/PR/Her2?

letsgogolf

I had a micromet in 1 node of 8. My oncotype score was only 3. My survival odds actually went down with chemo. I did have nodes radiated.

keepthefaith

^{HH. I had a similar DX and a 21 onco-score. As you can see, I did chemo. I was offered, but I did not do the mamma-print. I'm not sure when you had SX, but you may want to inquire about the guildelines for the optimum time frame between SX and chemo to start, if you go that route. Best wishes!}