Oncotype DX test results - how reliable??

Pam,

The oncotype dx test is for pre-menopausal women.  They have discovered that it is beneficial for post meno as well.  Here's the link from Genomic Health on that issue.  http://www.genomichealth.com/OncotypeDX/Index.aspx?SId=33

There are soooo many different variables with breast cancer that each case should be handled individually.  I had an 8mm tumor and a score of 12.  Yes I ran as fast as I could from chemo.  As far as reliability it has been included in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 2008 Breast Cancer Treatment Guidelines.  So I would assume that it's fairly reliable. 

Good luck on your decision - what does your onc say?

 Hugs,

Trish

I just asked my oncologist this question yesterday, then I read your post today!  Great minds think alike (or is it obsessive minds think alike?   ) anyway, he told me that they developed this test using tissue samples of patients from years ago. Because the samples were from many years ago they know the outcome - meaning they know who had a recurrance and who did not.  The problem is the grey area and that is where the Tailordx trial comes into play.  The extremes are the most accurate.  This mean that the low scores and high scores are very accurate.  After following the patients who's tissue samples showed a low score they had a very low recurrance rate and those that scored high did have a high recurrance rate (I'm not sure how chemo plays into this - I'll have to ask him to explain it to me again). I hope I am explaining this right and you can follow what I'm saying.  If you score in the grey area, they don't know if the chemo helps or not.  They will not know this until the trial is done and the results are available in about 20 years from now!!

Pam,

I just went for my first radiation consult and my onc said that in the past everyone got chemo and only 3% of the women needed it. The oncotype dx test determines those that will benefit from chemo. My score was high 36 but with chemo & rads it puts me at the same survival rate as those that didn't need the chemo. I say if you don't need it, you don't want it. Good luck with your decision.

hlya, My score is 24 with a .6cm grade 1, no node . The scores are all over the place from what I see.

gnut, I agree with hlya it's more than likely the positive nodes. I was also told to do chemo, but had to stop after the first chemo because of SE's.

karen

hlya, My ER is 98% and my PR is 34% on the tumor and 78% with the core biopsy, so I'm figuring it's really the 34%. I don't think I've been on the ILC forum, but guess I really should post there. Not sure what you mean by Pleomorphic. My path report shows Notingham score:

 Tubular formation:3

Nuclear pleomorphism:1

Miotic Count:1

Total score/grade 5/low

hlya, no the same clinic did not do the surgery biopsy. And to make things even more comfusing my oncotype test came back PR negative. Go figure 3 different results for the PR. All my Dr's have said oncotest most likely wrong for PR.

As far as i know i don't have Pleomorphic ILC. I do know I had a lump found on my yearly mammagram. In fact my breast surgeon questioned whether it was ILC from the core sample because they were not sure on the path report but thought it was. He had it retested by his clinic which was the same one that gave me my results from the lumpectomy.

My chemo problems are from something called radiation recall.

Karen

i am awaiting my oncotype dx score - i am premenopausel and was wondering if the test would be accurate (do you only have to be post menopausel)?  i too hd one node positive -

Hey gnut, you sound like me.  Except I'm 48years old. er/pr positive and her2neg.  Just heard about this oncs score thing yesterday. The oncologist actuallly said he and his colleagues at the same hospital all have differeing views.  His point was for me to have surgery first (my tumor is 2.4 cm the auxilla biopsy showed involvement, don't know how much). During the surgery they will determine how many nodes. But because of the high percentage of er/pr positive score my body may not respond to the traditional chemo, but should do well with the hornone therapy.  So he did not rule out chemo completely, just thinks it may be a milder dose because of nodes...it almost felt like if there was no node involved  i wouldn't need the chemo.  The infor isn't believed the same by all the oncologists...until it is I want to do everything possible to be cancer free.  I just fear the radiation, thin skin under my arms. Than what happens to me?  I'm with you and glad I found you on this post. Keep me informed ...thinkn of ya...susie

I'm 36 year old with Stage IIA, 2.5 cm, ER+PR+/HER-, node negative with a high score in the low recurrence range for the Oncotype Dx, but there is some research that premenopausal women didn't far well with the bell shape curve. I had one oncologist wouldn't give me chemotherapy if I ask for it due to medical insurance if I got sick I could sue the hospital. I really didn't want to do chemo. My oncologist surgeon suggested we run a mammaprint (71 genes) tested. The mammaprint came back with the need for me to do chemotherapy. When I got that result I cried, because chemotherapy was the ONE thing that scared me with cancer. I now start Nov 20th.

today is day 3 post chemo and my throat feels like I have strep. The Onc gave me steroids, amoxicillin, and a mouthwash I can't get until Monday. I got myself up and walked 1.5 miles because I'm not going to let the SE win. The neulasta shot makes my calves hurt and I'm taking Claritin for it. I guess SE hit later for some people.

I’m on 4 treatments of T: Taxotere® (docetaxel). C: Cytoxan® ( cyclophosphamide). My reoccurrence should be down to 10% or less. I don’t keep up with numbers, because my chance of getting cancer was less than 2% at my age. I plan on getting myself up tomorrow and driving to 7 hours for a scent detection trial with my Labrador. I have a driver and I figured I can stay home in pain or I can move forward. I might be stubborn for doing such a feat. I can rest in the car and sleep in the hotel. As I told my hubby tonight, this is what cancer feels like well I’m not going to let it win. I’m drinking about 130-150 oz of water a day since chemo. I drink about 92 oz of water a day anyway. Yes, I have down days but those are just obstacles in this journey.

Emq2: You can do it. Keep a journey. Ask for help when needed, and go kick some cancer booty.

I didn't have a choice. They won't give me AC because of my age afraid of heart issues in the future.