worried over onco score

Mary71 - At my followup with ny BS after the surgery, he referred me to a Radiation Oncologist and a Medical Oncologist.  First, the MO requested the Oncotype DX test and when that came back at 14, he said no Chemo and sent me to the RO who prescribed the radiation treatments.  In between the RO consult, I also got two more MO recomendations regarding chemo.  All three said no. So I had rads from 1/17-3/6.  The MO prescibes systemic medicine like tamox. 

Hi..I was wondering how valuable the oncotype score is if you had a BMX? I am awaiting seeing the onocologist and have a score of 22. I had ended up having DCIS/LCIS and atypicial changes around my IDC( highly ER/PR positive, 1.6 CM) after a re-excision..... so I decided on BMX. I am 44. I am sure I will be on Tamoxifin but not sure if chemo would benefit me and the value on the oncotype score when NOT used to evaluate a Lumpectomy. And ideas???  Thanks, Bonnie

Bonnie, at a score of 22 you're in that darned middle section. The MO will need to look at the charts that come with that. It shows the statistical chance of it coming back with chemo, without chemo, and it's all predicated on you being on tamoxifen for 5 years. That's what the graphs will show - 3 graphs, one for if you take no tamox and no chemo, one if you take tamox but no chemo, and one if you take tamox and have chemo. The percent survival difference is printed right on the report. 22 is probably going to be a tough call. My tumor was like yours 1.5cm, but I was grade 3 which is worse than grade 2. However I had very clean margins by over 1cm at surgery and my sentinel nodes were clear. So they put me right into radiation and said they doubted I would need chemo unless my genetic score came back high which it did not. It's really all about the math. My tumor was also over 90% ER and PR positive. There is a website called Cancer Math which your doc can also plug in all the data. Keep us posted what you find out!

Sure thing Cherilynn.  I'm on Metformin btw, 500mg once daily.  I take it with my biggest meal, which is Lunch.

 This is my first post so forgive if I'm in wrong site.  This forum seems to be closest to my situation except for node involvement.  My diagnosis with 1 sentinel node out of 11 apparently is game changer.  I do not wish to do chemo if at all avoidable.  I am 66 yrs old, first time diagnosis, Onke score 20, grade IIa, ER pos, PR pos, tumor was 1.3, sentinel node tumor was .7cm,  My med onc is recommending, chemo 4 cycles 3 wks apart, (I only know Taxotere is one of them) then Rad with drug therapy to follow.  I am in otherwise good health and have no major illnesses.  My concerns are that if I do chemo and have recurrence, I have no where to go.  Also, the complications with chemo are very disconcerting at my age.  I also have a friend who had very difficult cancer to go thru, did everything, but after about 6/7 yrs had fronto lobe dementia which could be contributed to chemo fog and is still haunting me.  He died after about 2 yrs of decline.  If anyone has any advice I am open to it.  Chemo no/yes, whole breast radiation for sure, estrogen drug yes.  I have two second opinion appts but maybe difficult to use b/c chemo is scheduled in two weeks. Thanks for any help

Hi all,

I ended up starting on CMF..chemo with my oncotype score of 22.The MO put it to me in these terms..15% chance of metatasis..5% reduction with chemo.and.5% with tamoxifin. She see's the reoccurences so she recommended it ( especially at my age 44).  It has been like having a bad hangover for a few days following the treatment. I had 2 out of my 8 so far.The first time your anxiety over every ache and pain made it seem worse. I found benadryl helped with the sinus like headache.