Oncotype DX score of 20 received today

Thanks so much, Pam.  My onc said 12 weeks, so I was just curious. 

Hi samiam40,

My Onco told me that he didn't feel that I needed to do chemo.  He said that chemo might reduce my risk factor by 2%.  He did say that if I wanted to do it that he would give it to me.  He said that I need to be able to sleep at night.  He gave me examples of woman with Oncotypes of 12 and 14 getting chemo b/c they wanted it and others with scores as high as 30 who refused.  I told him that I would think about it and get back with him.  I'm planning to call him tomorrow and tell him that I've decided to forego it.  I don't feel that the benefit is worth the long term risks that chemo bring.  It's so hard to make decisions like this.  I know that we all want to make the right choices for overall health and well being. 

Lisa

I am 7 weeks post op and go to the Med Onc tomorrow to find out what my Oncotyp DX score is. I also had a PET scan on Monday and will get those results also.  I am hoping for the best and then will be able to start my radiation.  I was originally told that I would need to be doing my radiation between 6 and 8 weeks, but even if I can get an appointment next week with the Rad Onc, it would be another two weeks before I could start the radiation.

Juannelle

Mary, thanks for enlightening me.  With your score, may I ask what you decided to do?  Juanelle-I wish you the best as well.  Donna

Cheryl, what did you decide to do vis a vis chemo with your score of 20?  I just found out today that I have a 21 score so we're very close. thanks, Donna

Well, I had my Med Onc appointment today to find out my Oncotype DX score.  It is 25.  Not at all what I wanted to hear.  I did manage to keep the tears a bay while I was with the doctor.  However, as I was waiting for my flu shot, a woman came out of the chemo area, with her little base ball cap and bald head and I couldn't hold back any more.  I just broke down and cried like a baby.  Luckily my cousin was with me and she held me close and calmed me down. 

My Onc thinks that it would be worth it to do chemo.   These decisions are so hard, I hate this.  Everything has gone so well.  Early detection, small tumor, PET scan didn't show anything else in my body, surgery went well, ER positive, so I am trying to be in the glass half full area, instead of the glass half empty.

It was a DQ blizzard day.  I will do my research and make the best decision for me.  There is also a clinical study she wants me to look at.  I am going to talk to them, but am not sure I will do it.  It is a flip of a coin as to whether you get chemo or not.  If I truly want chemo, then I will not do the study.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.  The gift that keeps on giving.

Juannelle

Thanks MAGOB.  I have come to a standstill on what I need to do.  I am really leaning toward chemo, but there are many things to consider.

When I got home from the doctor, I went and picked up my grandson, he is 5, and kept him for a couple of hours.  I needed something to take my mind off of bc.  He is the ticket.  When he is around he is the center of the universe.

What ever decision that I make, I just don't want to look back in 5 years and fear that I made the wrong one.  It is like the doctor said today, if it comes back, it probably will not be in the breast and it will be  harder to treat.  I am almost in the dead center of the chart, so it makes it that much harder.

Juannelle

Hi Pam,

I have agonized over this all day.  It has been very emotional for me.  Almost as bad as when I was first told of my dx.  All I can say is that I was so sure that I would not do chemo and that was very important to me.  I guess now it is really really real and I have to face the facts.  Every thing had been going so well.

I don't want to look back and think that I have made the wrong decision, it is so scary.  I have just about made the decision that I will do chemo.  I could go get a second opinion, but I will still have to make the decision.   So that will not go away.  I really like my Med Onc and I think she is giving me the advice that I need, but I know it is up to me. 

Juannelle

Pam, thanks for your kind words.  I know I am strong and I do think I will be at peace when I have made the final decision. 

I just don't like making all the hard decisions.  But they are there for me to consider and do the best I can.

Juannelle

Hi Mary,

Thank goodness you asked me this question!  I went to get my path reports and could not find them!  I had never put them back from last time I took them to a doctor with me so had to search all over to find them!  Thank you for alerting me to their misplacement.

Anyway...

My surgeon gave me a copy of my final pathology report.  The company is AmeriPath.  After the identifying stuff on the top... name, date, hospital, doctor, specimen ID, date collected, date received, date reported.. then there are two divisions:  BREAST PROGNOSTIC PANEL REPORT and HER-2 FISH ANALYSIS REPORT.

Under the first heading is "Clinical Information" which details which breast, etc.

Also under that heading is "Results and Interpretation" .  Here is where it says:

ER....: Positive 99%

PR..... Positive 28%

HER-2 FISH has been ordered and will be added to this report when completed.  (Then that shows up down at the bottom of the page.)

Reference range ER,PR: <2% is negative; 2-4% is Weakly positive; >4% is Positive

It must be that different labs express the results in different terms.  Perhaps you could call the lab and ask them to interpret the numbers for you?  I have seen other members here quote their ER in the form yours is so I think it is just an alternate way of saying the same thing.  My report does not show a scale drawing.

 My doctors have said being 99% ER+ is very good.  I am older (62) so on Arimidex but am sure the same thinking applies to tamoxifen.  Have you had that test that measures if you are a good metabolizer of tamoxifen?   

I hope this helps you.  There is so much to figure out with this and this site is a blessing to all of us.

 Pam 

I was originally diagnosed as a triple negative, but pushed onc to send in for oncotype.  Turns out I am ER and PR+.  Received a score a 20 and onc wants to do chemo.  Went for 2nd opinion from dr. at nci designated hosp and he doesn't feel I need chemo at all due to the size (.8mm), grade 1, and 75% or greater tubular features.  I think I am going to choose no chemo as he said the benefit would only be 1%.  Anybody else get the same feedback?

Hi, Mary. I had my 1st treatment last Wednesday.  Onco type was 17.  How are you feeling?  I had blood work today and my white cell count is down to 300.

I am newly diagnosed and awaiting results of both the HER2 and the Oncotype (which hasn't arrived at the lab yet).  The initial HER2 was "borderline," so a FISH test was ordered and results should be here Friday.  This certainly is an anxious time.  Haven't seen an oncologist yet. 

 I am 62 and had my yearly mammogram on 9/25/09.  Had biopsy on 9/28/09 and partial mastectomy (lumpectomy) on 10/06/09.  Doing fairly well physically, but emotional roller-coaster.

I read some of the posts of the really young women and it made me realize how very blessed I am.   

Hi All

I had to weigh in here. My Oncotype score was 26 -- in the upper half of the "intermediate risk" category. The report also says I'm ER+ (8.5), PR -, HER2- I had no lymph node involvement.

My oncologist was recommending chemo even before the Oncotype was done. His reasoning involved the size of my tumor, its location, and my age -- (he calls 51 young!) 

When I received the score and did some research, I decided to do the chemo. I didn't want to take the gamble on a recurrance -- my cancer did not show up on a rountine mammogram by the way. I have also been reading a lot about how tumors develop. Micro-tumors can be present for years before become malignant. And, I wasn't necessarily an example of clean and healthy living -- I have a history of smoking and also social alcohol. (did you know that more than 4 oz of alcohol a week doubles your risk of breast cancer?) 

So, it's a personal decision for all of us. If my score had been in the low 20s, I think the decision would have been more difficult. 

The young women with children, and/or a job with no flexibility and those without good support -- they all have my utmost respect. I'm very lucky to be able to take this treatment while working from home and am surrounded by support. I know that's not the case of many many people.

My second of six chemo treatments was yesterday. Not quite as easy as the first, but, here I am.

Love and strength to everyone

Lottie

Thank you for the reply.  I like the idea of getting results over phone.  Mostly that is what has happened so far.  I am trying to get in to see a medical oncologist and so far I have been told that they need to have my oncotype and HER2 back before I can set an appt.  I am pushing for an appt before that and was supposed to receive a call today...didn't happen.   I'll call them if no word by noon tomorrow. 

Also I was trying to stay relaxed this evening when the company that does the Oncotyping called to say they weren't sure if my insurance was going to pay for it.  Cost is over $3000.  Now how can you relax when people call in evening!?   I should have asked him if he was a Dodger fan and note that they were losing.  I realize California is two hrs behind us, but he might have called earlier so that I could call my insurance to clarify.  We have really good insurance and I will be very surprised if they don't pay. 

Glad you didn't have to do chemo.  Do you know if age factored in?  One of the reasons I wrote to you is that I noted that we are the same age.  Chemo is one of my greatest fears.  Praying for all good results.  Radiation does not scare me so much due to local rather than systemic effect.  

It really does feel good to air frustration. 

Thanks for listening.

Kay