Oncotype Dx Test

The whole purpose of the Oncotype DX test is to give some guidance as to whether or not chemotherapy would be benficial for stage 1 and 2 people. Since you obviously will be receiving chemotherapy because of your positive lymph node and size of your lesion, I'm not sure why the Oncotype Dx would be helpful. Best wishes to you! 

The doctor who thought the test didn't apply probably didn't know it was available for women with 1-3 positive nodes. This information seems to get around slowly, even among oncs. You can take it, and Iwould recommend it.  No test is 100 percent accurate, but it is highly reliable and backed by considerable research. They have a website which has information about the test and the basis for it.

The onc may also have been impressed by the size, but ILC just tends to be bigger and is not necessarily more aggressive if it is big. This is what the oncotype dx can tell you

frances, I had the OncotypeDx done on archived tissue. I had already done chemo and radiation but I wanted to know how aggressive my cancer was because I was having great difficulty taking an aromatase inhibitor anad wanted to stop early. My oncotype score was an 18. I stopped early.

frances1--My little beast was irregular in shape and multifocal, according to MRI extending in one direction to 6 cm. It was classified as 2.2 for whatever reason. My oncotype score was16 and I declined chemo, mainly because the research I was reading indicated that most HER2- lobular tumors do not respond well to chemo. Most of them are slow growers and are not affected. But if yours is one of the exceptions, then it's good to know that too.

Many people feel better if they do chemo, because even if they have a recurrence they feel that they used every available weapon. Now if I went through chemo in spite of the evidence I had collected and had a recurrence, I would just be hopping mad for getting another bad break. I wouldn't blame myself for trusting the evidence--but that's just me. Everybody's different.

frances1--Yes, I did radiation and am taking Femara, since I am post menopausal. I have no noticable side effects from Femara. I already had stiff joints from arthritis, and don't notice anythihg getting worse. I did both of these because they seemed likely to be helpful.

hlya--according to the path report, ER=95%, PR=0. Oncotype represents the expression on a numerical scale, in my case ER=10.9 out of 12.5 maximum, PR=4.5 out of 10 maximum.

A score of 18 is on the border between low and intermediate risk. High scores begin at 30.

Seabee-Did you have a lumpectomy or mastectomy?  I had an onco score of 19 and also declined chemo. I had 25 days of radiation and I'm on Femara and have no real side affects.  I'm still going to see my onco every 3 months for blood tests.  I go tomorrow and am always a little squeamish, even though I don't get the results for a week.

I have just recently been diagnosed with Stage 1 Invasive ductal carcinoma, ER+, PR-, Her2-. My tumor was .9 cm, negative nodes. I had a lumpectomy therefore I will have radiation as well as the estrogen inhibitor. My Oncotype DX score was 21 which changed minds about my treatment. Should I have chemo and if so what is the chemo choice? I have varying opinions about treatment. Any information from others would be appreciated. PC

JannaC--I had a lumpectomy and radiation, am now on Femara.  I see the BS, RAD onc, and med onc every 6 months. Had an MRI and mammo in February. I like being followed closely.

My score was 17 with my ER/PR the same as Seabee 10.9/4.5. I am in the midst of 16 rads (had #5 today). I opted for no chemo as it only reduced my recurrance % by 3%. I am 58 and the potential se's outweighed the 3% benefit. Am scared to take Arimidex but I will try to give it a shot. My body does NOT like any kind of drug so it will be one day at a time for me.

Hi Frances,

My stats and treatment plan were similar to several others.  Oncotype score 16, ER score 9.9 and PR score 7.1.  At the time of diagnosis I was 57 and postmenopausal, lumpectomy, did not do chemo, but did radiation and have been on Arimidex for about 26 months.  I am fortunate to tolerate Arimidex fairly well.  Some joint stiffness...I resemble the Tin Man when I get up from a chair after I have sat for a while, some hot flashes, but all quite tolerable.  Thinking good thoughts for you.

Frances - to do chemo or not is a very personal decision. All I can tell you is what my decision was. As I said above, I am 58 and the potential se's of chemo outweighed the benefit of 3% risk reduction for me. You need to discuss this with family and friends and ultimately, do what you feel is best for you.

Frances,  I would also like to encourage you to seek out additional oncologists for their opinion.  I went to 3 different ones.  The tie breaker was the onc at Johns Hopkins that told me with a tumor of my size (4.5 cm), they would definitely go with chemo.  Again, like others have said it is your personal decision.  I have no long term effects from my 4 Txs of Taxotere/Cytoxan and I feel that I have done everything I could possibly do (along with eating right & exercising) to prevent BC from coming back.