Should we have the OncotypeDX test done?

I pushed to have this test done, even though it is rarely offered in Canada. Nobody wanted to prescribe chemo for me, based on my stats. My low Oncotype score reinforced that, but for some women, their seemingly indolent tumours score high on Oncotype. Without the test, some may have bypassed chemo to their detriment. Oncotype helps to determine who will benefit from chemo and who will not but is an additional tool, not the one and only!

If you have strong inclinations to do chemo or not already, maybe not. I was willing to pay the full cost if my insurance denied it. Insurance did pay. The test doesn't guarantee you need chemo to prevent a reoccurence or you won't get a reoccurence if you skip chemo. You might look at the reoccurence rates(Genomic Health website) for low, intermediate & high scores. If you'd have chemo for a low score(some women do) or if you'd decline chemo even if your score was high(some women do), there is probable no reason to shell out the $$$. And intermediate scores are just frustrating, from what I've read here on the boards. I found the extra information useful in my decision.  

HI there, I'd get the test done. Its another piece of information to help make the decision on chemo's benefit.

Please also the genomic health people. They own the Onxo type test and they have a financial aid type program and they help pay for the balance after Insurance has paid.  I went through their grant/financial aid program and my income is really pretty generous and I still qualified.  All in, I ended up paying 45$ or so for the test. All you need to do is answer a few questions over the phone, they then send you a form to fill out. You don't need to give them your tax reports or anything to prove our income and debts. Truly call them, its well worth your time to discuss your options.

Good luck and please send me a PM if you want to chat about the financial /aid/grant program they offer more in depth. I wish you strength as you go through these next months.

Bevin

For what it's worth, my MO (who is very smart and worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) said Oncotype is not as powerful a predictor as it's made out to be.  

He said Mammaprint is much better.  You have to order it before your surgery, so they can prepare the specimen correctly.  There's more info on it here: 

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/mammaprint.jsp

I don't know if your insurance would cover it, but it's worth asking about.  Good luck!

Oh, and Oncotype CAN be done if you have one positive node (it was offered to me) ... they're currently doing a study on node-positive women (I think postmenopausal) and Oncotype. 

First, I want to thank all the wise, generous women on this site. Before learning about this site, I never had heard of the Oncotype test, my surgeon never mentioned it, and it was not included in any of the written material given me after my diagnosis. I had my first appointment with the medical oncologist today, and I asked about Oncotype. She seemed pleased that I was a knowledgeable patient and said it was something she definitely recommended in my case, since I already fell into somewhat of a gray area, with micrometastasis in one node, which some doctors consider node-positive and some consider node-negative. She said my PR+ER+HER2- would argue against chemo, but the grade 3 tumor and the micrometastasis might argue for it. She said the Oncotype results would help both of us decide the best treatment, although she did warn, as many of you did also, that the results still could be inconclusive. But I want as much information as possible and will feel better making a decision on further treatment (chemo or no chemo) after hearing from the Oncotype, the CT scan and the bone scan.

Again, this is a marvelous resource!