Oncotype score 23 uggggg

Please, don't apologize.  We've all poured it out here at one time or another.

I don't yet know my Oncotype result until Wednesday.  Bmx was done 2/10.  I'm just telling myself it's a 50/50 shot.  In my heart and head though I've made the decision that if it falls in the grey area that I will do it to know that I've done all that I could.  Same as I did with the Bmx, which turned out to be the BEST decision as there was multiple types and sites going on in both breasts although only the tumor in the left was known.  The other sites were with some of the cysts and with the calcification.

Have you found a support group yet?  BCO rocks and is as good as one but there's something to be said about face-to-face interaction.

Look, I'm not known for my tact.  Yes, your family is important but it's YOUR life and decision.  Do what is right for YOU.  This is just my two cents worth.  Not meaning to preach or tell you what to do.

Sally

My Onco score was 37.  I had a lumpectomy, mammosite radiation 10 treatments, 4 rounds of AC and 12 weekly infusions of Taxol.  It was not fun but doable.  I had my chemo on Thursday and would go back to my partime job on Monday.  I work partime at a state university for my insurance and few extra $$.  I stayed away from large groups of people, did not eat at any buffets or cafeterias, used alot of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes on surfaces at home.  I had no infections.  I had my last chemo on Dec. 1, 2011.  Energy level is still low but leaning where my new normal is and pacing myself accordingly.  Good Luck

Hey CandyB328, your story kind of sounds like mine.  I posted "Another Chemo or No Chemo Dilemma" last month because my Oncotype score was 21, also in the grey area.  It took me 3 excruciatingly difficult weeks to reach my decision, and my indecision prompted me to seek a 2nd opinion.  The 2nd MO I talked to said in my case there was no "wrong" answer, and to make my decision based on what was right for me, and what will help me "sleep at night."

I took my personal pathology report into great consideration when making my decision.  I had a grade 2, 1.5 cm tumor.  My Ki-67 was 15%, also in the low/intermediate range.  Very important, I had no LVI identified, so there were no cancer cells detected in my bloodstream.  Node negative, clean margins.  If I had a higher Ki-67 score, LVI present, an oncotype score over 25, or some other factor that raised a red flag, or even if the MO's I talked to said, "I really think you need to do chemo" then I would have done chemo.  My first MO thought chemo might be a good option for me because I'm only 40 years old, but it would only give me a 3% added benefit in addition to the treatment I would already be doing.

In the end, I decided against chemo, because a 3% added benefit did not seem worth it to me to turn my life upside down, which is what I feel getting chemo would be doing.  There were many factors weighing in on my decision, and this was what was best for me.  I am almost halfway done with rads, and afterwards I will be getting a hysterectomy so I can start Arimidex.

Listen to your MO's advice, and get a 2nd opinion or more if necessary. Make sure you understand your pathology report and take that into consideration when making your decision.  But in the end, listen to your gut.  Make the choice that is best for YOU.  Hugs and good wishes! 

The score on the Oncotype was a 12!!! Onc even pulled up the other program they use, Adjuvant, to show she'd compared them too. While it showed a 20+ score, it did show a breakdown that brought it back down to a 5-8. I do NOT need Chemo, although will be on Tamoxifen! Without the Chemo my risk is 8% of getting Breast Cancer again. With it, the risk would be 3%. Oh yeah...doing the HAPPY DANCE over here!

This lady was on her game, had already read my file and knew quite a fewspecifics. She'd gotten her hands on the test score the day before when it hadn't yet been received by her yet.

She asked the questions needed. However, a shocked look showed on her face when said Mom had to stop Tamoxifen due to blood clots in her lungs. I explained that I'd had the blood tests to see if I had inheirited the factors about the blood clotting and they'd been negative. See, out of Five that are important, Mom had THREE which is quite unusual. She wants me to find that information to show her at the next appt, to see which ones were the problem for her. Her concern is that if Mom's were positive and mine were negative, that some thing is off the mark and not right. Also, she has recommended to the Breast Clinic that I have Brca 1 and 2 testing because of Mine and Mom's BC, her Sister's Colon Cancer, and their Father's Prostate Cancer. I didn't realize there is a connection through the Brca2 gene about Prostate and Uterine Cancer.

Sally