Oncotype test

Options
Northern100
Northern100 Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

Hello I am new to this board. My tumour has just been sent away for above test , I do not live in the states and this test is only available in our country I. The last few months . I am just checking how accurate is this test and is it safe to skip chemo based on low score. My tumour is very small 5cm dcis and 5mm invasive grade 3 node negative lymphvascular invasion nil .

I am forthy with 4small kids and my mother had breast cancer T age 59 10years ago and had no recurrence. I just want to make sure this never comes back as I have seen people go from dcis /stage 1 to stage 4 . I had a masectomy and have been told to take tamoxifen for 5 years. Thank you so much for reading.









· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited May 2012

    The Oncotype DX test is now being recommended in the NCCN guidelines. Many of us have had the test and used the information from the test in helping us with our treatment making decision. Good luck! Glad to hear that your mom is doing well. Should bring you great comfort.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • HealingDreams
    HealingDreams Member Posts: 50
    edited May 2012

    I have the same question about the OncotypeDX score.

    What i understand from what I have read is that all that the test does is tell you the probability of a recurrence. It cannot tell you if you will have a recurrence or not. So for example, if your risk is low, say 12%, it cannot tell you if you will be among the 88% who do not have a recurrence or among the 12% who do.

    It is really just a tool to help you decide if classic chemotherapy, rather than hormonal chemotherapy, is right for you. Can you live with the percentage of risk of recurrence, given the side effects of chemotherapy?

    There is another good thread on this board that explains a lot. I will look for it for you and post again.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited May 2012

    Healing Dream... Check out the Stage 1, Grade 1 Premenopausal thread if you are Premenopausal. Lots of info there!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited May 2012

    HealingDreams explains the test results perfectly.  The test gives us an idea of metastatic ("distant") recurrence; it will not tell us how likely the cancer is to come back locally (in the currently affected breast, or your other breast).  I had to get that clarification from my doctor, who says there is no test to reveal a chance of local (breast) recurrence.  THAT piece of information I do not know.

    The Onco test number itself is looked at to determine the efficacy of chemo.  A low score (<18) indicates a very low chance of metastatic recurrence and, therefore, little benefit from chemo (there won't be much of a difference in recurrence if you do, or do not, do chemo when your score is low).  The lower the score, the lower the chance for recurrence.  I know many women here who have had scores of 1, 3, 6, 10 (very low) who have opted to forgo chemo, with the blessings of their oncologists.  The midrange results are tricky; 18-30 means a possibility of recurrence and my oncololist said she would have recommended chemo for a midrange score.  Anything over 32 is considered high - mine is 42, which correlates to a 28% metastatic rate, but is reduced to 18% with chemo and tamoxifen - and at that point doctors strongly suggest (or maybe just assume) that chemo will be the protocol.

    People tell me to focus on the fact that there's an 82% chance my cancer will NOT metastasize - but I cannot help but focus on that 18%.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • HealingDreams
    HealingDreams Member Posts: 50
    edited May 2012

    Thank you for this further clarification of the Onco test, Nancy HB. I didn't know that it only measures the likely risk of a distant recurrence, i.e. metastasis.

    Thanks also to voraciousreader for suggesting Stage 1, Grade 1 premenopausal thread for more information.

    I also found about four good threads on the onco test on the "IDC Invasive Ductal Carcinoma" forum.

    Hope this helps you, Northern100. Understanding what the test measures and doesn't measure will help you decide how to use the information you get.

    What country are you from?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JustBeatIt_DahDumDum
    JustBeatIt_DahDumDum Member Posts: 60
    edited May 2012

    Thanks for the information.  I will hopefully get my oncotype results tomorrow.  HealingDreams, where do I find the IDC form? This new format has kind of confused me. Thanks!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • HealingDreams
    HealingDreams Member Posts: 50
    edited May 2012

    Have you found the IDC forum, JustBeatIt? First, choose All Topics at the top left of this page. Then scroll down the page, you will find it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories