Oncotype DX score of 20 received today

I'm ER+ >90%, PR-0% HER2 negative. Told by my Onc that PR- indicates a more aggessive phenotype.  Any other PR negatives out there?  Can you tell me your Oncotype dx scores?  Would appreciate the info.  Thanks so much!

cmz, I had a pr- tumor.  It also was a grade 3.  My Oncotype score is 18.  My onc recommended taking an AI, and not doing chemo. He didn't think the benefit outweighed the risk in my case.  I'm happy with that decision.  

 There are no guarantees, of course. 

I received Oncotype DX score of 28 yesterday. I thought I might be looking at radiation only. Now I don't know. I'm 46, <1 cm, Stage 1, no nodes, grade 2, ER+, PR+, HER2-.</p>

Anyone similar and your thoughts, please?

I spent a good part of the night crying. It felt like being diagnosed all over again. I am waiting for a call from the oncologist to help explain all this. I am scared of chemo and I want to make the right choice.

Thank you! My oncologist called and wants me to do four cycles of chemo starting next week. My ER score was high but my PR score was marginal and she thought that's when oncotype scores can sometimes come back intermediate high given younger age and borderline PR score, I think. More aggressive cancer with earlier onset for my age. She said recurrence percentage was 18 percent with hormone therapy alone and chemo could bring that to 10-11 percent. Better odds over time for a "younger" person (I don't feel so young right now at 46. My children are teenagers.)

I have so many questions right now. How soon did hair loss start? How long did oncologist wait after chemo to start radiation? How much did the anti-nausea meds help?

 How are you feeling now? Any long term effects from the chemo?

 I'm glad it feels like a distant memory now. I look forward to that.

MinnesotaBarb,

I am so glad you are going to do chemo.  My Onco score was 17 and a retest brought it to 18 and even though that was pretty good I decided on chemo since my grade was 3.  Once I made the decision there was relief, and I have never had to look back and wonder if I "should" have.   I  finished in January of '09 so I still don't know if there are any long term effects.  I was fairly lucky with the se's.  I had my share, but I was never sick or in bed.  I never lost my taste buds so food was not a problem.  I was able to continue my regular routine and stayed very active.  

I will try to answer a few of your questions but if you go to the chemo thread you will get tons of info.  If you are having a chemo that hair loss is a side effect, you can count on day 14 being the magic number.  I would say almost everyone starts the hairloss 14 days after first treatment.  After two days of filling the shower drain I went and got it buzzed...............very freeing, I was in control.  I am not going to say that hair loss is not a big deal, of course it is.  But, that being said, it was not nearly as bad as I feared and I really did not look bad.  (good shaped head, lots of eye makeup and big earrings...........lol )   Being on the other side I can say that 5 months after ending chemo I had enough hair to go "topless" sporting a very shiek high fashion short "do"

the anti nausea meds are great.  I never, ever had even a queasy moment.  Infact all the meds that are available make chemo and its se's very doable in most cases, so don't over worry.  You will find lots of answers here on bc.org.

I started my rads about 3 weeks after I finished chemo (35 sessions) and started my arimidex when I finished rads.

Once you step on the treatment treadmill you will be on your way to getting to the other side.  I started chemo on Oct. 13th, '08 and finished rads on March 16th '09.  You will get there.  Just put one foot in front of the other and keep moving.

Hope all goes well..................................Caren

I'm new here and I'll just add in my score.  I scored 18 and at first was very comfortable about doing the chemo, four treatments.  I was stage 1, clear nodes/margins.  I had a bilateral mastectomy and figured, lets do all we can.  then I started to get anxious about it.  I felt so good, and now I was going to take in poison that I felt wasn't necessary.  There's no guaranties, but something wasn't sitting right with me.  I went ahead with one treatment, felt like I couldn't breathe.  Everything was stopped and restarted again and I got through the treatment.  Hair started coming out 2 to 3 weeks later, so I shaved it.  I went back for treatment number two, didn't feel right from the start.  20 minutes into my taxotere, I stood up to go to the bathroom.  I felt dizzy, lightheaded, and very short of breath.  I sat down.  the next thing I know, there's a swarmof people around me, my oncologist, nurses.  I had blacked out and had a slight seizure.  He immediately stopped the chemo and I was extrememly happy about that decision.  I'm on tamoxafin but am uneasy about it.

I handled the whole cancer thing quite well, and honestly, a year later emotionally am not handling it so well.  I will continue to live my life and move forward and not slow down until God decides.  I'm just having a tough time now, I guess.

I look forward to meeting you all.