Onchotype Dx test

Mine came back at the low end of the middle range.  And the state of the art doesn't even know with clarity where the low range ends and the middle range starts.  So there's a real possibility that I am already in the low range, in which case, chemo would not be recommended..

So my decision: no chemo for me.  Instead of spending this year choosing to be sick and miserable in the hopes that I'll live another decade without a recurrence,, I'm going to spend the year getting well after last year's hell and be as healthy as I can.  If I have a recurrence, I'll address it then.

Consider that not everyone experiences all or any of the side effects of a particular medication. Consider also it is mostly those experiencing side effects that speak out. Talk to you onc about why he recommends one treatment ovr another.

Jan,

I had a oncotype of 9 and did lumpectomy, rads and four years of Tamoxifen.  Now I'm back with ILC in the same breast and same location.  Now I'm doing chemo and bilateral masectomy.  I wish I would have done more the first time.  I hope your plan works out better than mine did.

Take care,

Nancy

mamie65 - hair loss was a major concern of mine as well with the TC so I ended up using penguin cold caps and kept all my hair. There's a huge thread on here if you are interested. It's a big hassle and a little expense (not much more than a really good wig) but well worth it in the end.

IllinoisNancy - the Oncotype Dx test is a predictor of distant recurrence, not local recurrence (which is what is sounds like you have) so don't be so hard on yourself. Good luck with your future treatment.

HI, I also had the Onco test as my Tumor was ER+, Pr+ and node negative. The Oncogene test specifically helps women like me have another piece of information to decide about chemo. I was given a 13% benefit from chemo and given all the side effects didnt think it was worth it.  I did 37rounds of radiation, 29 regular, 8 boosts and now on arimdex. Which I had to just stop taking these past two weeks due to some issues with my heart rate.  They are likely switching me to aromisin once my heart rate normalizes.  Good luck on your decision. I saw several Oncologists for opinions before I made up my mind. I highly recommend that!

My score was 17 and as I am 59, the 2-3% extra benefit chemo would give me was not worth the 4-5% chance of permanent side effects for me.

My score was 16.  Age 59 and No chemo for me.

Hi Lee, have you thought about getting a couple of Oncologist opinions.  I saw 3, and doing this really helped make my decision.  Good luck to you.

I did the Oncotype DX test and my score was 17. I chose to do chemo despite my lower score. I am 32 years old and have a 5 year old daughter and felt that 4-5% in risk reduction was worth it, because I felt I owed it to myself and my child to do everything possible to lower that risk.  Also, I had a talk with my radiation oncologist and he gave me some helpful info. on the study done with the oncotype dx test. First it was done over twenty years ago. Second, the participants in the study were in their 50's which is when breast cancer normally affects women.  So the study is not necessarily applicable to women who were diagnosed young.  For whatever reason breast cancer in younger women is more aggressive and I feel that I have a long life ahead of me where the cancer can return.  So, I wanted to take every precaution.  Even though my cancer was Stage 1 with a low oncotype DX score, I also had 3 separate tumors.  Either way, I chose to do chemo and it really sucked, just hope it means no recurrence for me!