is radiation enough?

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sapphirelilac
sapphirelilac Member Posts: 13
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

hi

i was diagnosed with IDC stage II B, 2.5cm in diameter; nonttingham grade II. my lymphnodes are negative and ER and PR positive with negative Her2. my oncologist told me that i can just have radiation for 30 days with tamoxifen for 5 years. anybody have the same diagnosis and treatment? thanks. much appreciated.   

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  • j414
    j414 Member Posts: 321
    edited October 2009

    Hi sapphirelilac,

    Have you taken the oncotype dx test? 

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  • sapphirelilac
    sapphirelilac Member Posts: 13
    edited October 2009

    i dont think so. i have no idea what that is :(

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  • j414
    j414 Member Posts: 321
    edited October 2009

    The oncotype dx is a test that is administered to women who don't have any lymphatic or node invasion. Typically, a woman without node or lymphatic invasion wouldn't receive chemo, but studies found that women in this group still ended up with local and distant recurrences. The oncotype test will analyze your tumor and based on a very complicated test that I can't even begin to understand, they will be able to determine the likelihood of a recurrence resulting from this breast cancer .  Basically, your oncologist will send a slice of the tumor to the lab (genomic is the lab) and they will analyze your tumor and give it a score. If it's a low score (1-18) then the risk of your risk for a local (in the breast) or distant (in the bones, lungs etc) recurrence from this breast cancer is very low and chemo is not recommended b/c you will derive a very low benefit from chemo. If it's an intermediate score (19-30) then you would be in a gray area and if it's a high score then chemo would definitley be recommended.

    You should insist on this test - it's considered the gold standard/very reliable. And from what I've read, most insurance companies are automatically covering it. See the link for a better explanation and even post a question to the board tomorrow for feedback. I think just about everyone ends up taking it.

    http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/oncotype-dx-test-breast-cancer

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  • j414
    j414 Member Posts: 321
    edited October 2009

    Also, if your insurance won't cover it, then genomic will either waive the cost or give you a very generous discount. My insurance covered it, but for some reason my card was initially rejected and someone from the company called me and asked if I needed help paying for the test - I was shocked!

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  • sapphirelilac
    sapphirelilac Member Posts: 13
    edited October 2009

    thanks so much. i am due for a check-up. i'll ask my onco about this. thank you :)

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