Oncotype score of 17! Chemo?

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lola12
lola12 Member Posts: 127
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

Hi All,

My oncotype is 17. the high end of Low. My onc. gave me three options. Im 46, premenopausal, stage 1, grade 1 ILC with DCIS. Just had a uni. mastectomy. Option 1 is hormone therapy only (11% recurrance). Option 2 is CMF chemo (2% lower recurrance) and option 3 is TC (3% lower recurrance)

Literature says under 18, no chemo. But, what to do? Any thoughts?

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited November 2010

    Only you can determine whether reducing your chance of recurrence by 3% is worth the journey through chemo.  Yeah, people says it's "doable" but I recommend you read one of the monthly chemo threads to get a feel for the likely temporary and/or permanent side effects that you may or may not experience.  And for some ladies, it turns out to not be doable after all. Consider the risks/rewards and do your homework before making a decision. 

    Best wishes to you.

    Michelle

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  • smco
    smco Member Posts: 13
    edited November 2010

    Lola,

    I agree with Michelle; it's such a personal, individual decision.  You have to do what's right for you.  But for what it's worth...my dx was very similar to yours and my oncotype was 18.  I opted for bilateral mastectomy because of the ILC risk of contralateral bc.  I also optied for chemo (TC) because for me, I thought if I didn't have the chemo and did have a recoccurance, I'd always wonder if it was because I didn't do the chemo.  Now if I have a reoccurance I will at least feel that I initially did everything I could have done to fight the cancer.  The TC was doable, but NOT without side effects, most of which have been totally manageable.  Two bad side effects for me were losing my hair (growing back fine, but I was always known for my hair) and "chemo brain".  I have always been pretty bright and on top of things, but I do notice a difference since the chemo.  However, even the "fogginess" seems to be lifting (almost 6 months post-chemo) and I will have to say I don't regret my decision.  Hope this helps.

    Sharon

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  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited November 2010

    In the FWIW (for what it's worth) category, I also had a 17 score. My cancer was IDC, stage 1b grade2 er+/pr- her-. I am 58 and chemo would have given me a 1-1/2 to 2% reduction in risk of recurrance. The potential permanent se's of chemo were at 5% so I did the math and said no to chemo.

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  • KatRNagain92
    KatRNagain92 Member Posts: 522
    edited November 2010

    Ditto that.  I scored a 16 and just said no to chemo.  In the unlikely event of a recurrence way down the road, I'll have the chemo reserves in my back pocket if I need them. 

    Good luck with your decision!
    Kat

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  • lola12
    lola12 Member Posts: 127
    edited November 2010

    Kat,

    thats true, once you do chemo, you cant do it again right? Boy, this is a tough one.  Barbara, where did you get the 5% chemo SE percentage. Ive been looking for numbers on the negetive % effect of chemo vs the positive and cant find them. 2% is seems so big and so small.

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited November 2010

    You can do chemo again. Usually not the same drugs as the first time (since if it came back, whatever you did obviously didn't work), but different combinations.

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  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited November 2010

    My onc gave me the % numbers.

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  • D4Hope
    D4Hope Member Posts: 352
    edited November 2010

    My score was twenty and I opted to do chemo. I did not have rads due to bilateral MX and immediate reconstruction. My tumor was grade3+.

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  • kira1234
    kira1234 Member Posts: 3,091
    edited November 2010

    My onc. gave me the % using Ajuvent on line. You can use a different chemo if you have a reacurrance.  My onc. didn't give me the risk of permanent SE's I wish she had.

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  • lbrewer
    lbrewer Member Posts: 766
    edited November 2010

    try lifemath.net.  They use the exact same algorithims as Adjuvent on line but allow for more exact entry of tumor size.

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  • kira1234
    kira1234 Member Posts: 3,091
    edited November 2010

    http://www.lifemath.net/cancer/breastcancer/therapy/index.php

    This is the web site for lifemath

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  • lola12
    lola12 Member Posts: 127
    edited November 2010

    The thing that scares me is that recurrance means anywhere, not just breast. Wouldnt having the mastectomy with clear margins lower these statistics even more?

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  • PrettyinPink33
    PrettyinPink33 Member Posts: 2
    edited November 2010

    My onotype was 17 too. They did'nt give me a choice, they said i needed chemo and radiation.

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited November 2010
    lola12, Your Onco score assumes you've had the standard treatment up to that point, be it Mx or lumpectomy + rads.  My score was 18, with about the same percentages given to you.  I chose to skip the chemo.  You would be surprised at how many of us are "borderline."  I did appreciate my doctor letting me make a personal choice.
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